CN113543243B - Link processing method, multi-link device and computer readable storage medium - Google Patents

Link processing method, multi-link device and computer readable storage medium Download PDF

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CN113543243B
CN113543243B CN202010308652.7A CN202010308652A CN113543243B CN 113543243 B CN113543243 B CN 113543243B CN 202010308652 A CN202010308652 A CN 202010308652A CN 113543243 B CN113543243 B CN 113543243B
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link
mld
information
frame
bss
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CN113543243A (en
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黄国刚
淦明
周逸凡
郭宇宸
李云波
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Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
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Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
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Priority to CN202010308652.7A priority Critical patent/CN113543243B/en
Priority to JP2022563193A priority patent/JP7483931B2/en
Priority to BR112022020845A priority patent/BR112022020845A2/en
Priority to PCT/CN2021/087955 priority patent/WO2021209059A1/en
Priority to EP21788239.8A priority patent/EP4131816A4/en
Publication of CN113543243A publication Critical patent/CN113543243A/en
Priority to US17/967,024 priority patent/US20230046270A1/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W76/00—Connection management
    • H04W76/10—Connection setup
    • H04W76/15—Setup of multiple wireless link connections
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
    • H04L1/22—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received using redundant apparatus to increase reliability
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L45/00—Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks
    • H04L45/24—Multipath
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W28/00—Network traffic management; Network resource management
    • H04W28/02—Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
    • H04W28/0268—Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/0005—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
    • H04W36/0011—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off for data sessions of end-to-end connection
    • H04W36/0027—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off for data sessions of end-to-end connection for a plurality of data sessions of end-to-end connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer end-to-end data connections
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/0005—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
    • H04W36/0055—Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W40/00—Communication routing or communication path finding
    • H04W40/02—Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
    • H04W40/12—Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing based on transmission quality or channel quality
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W40/00—Communication routing or communication path finding
    • H04W40/24—Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
    • H04W40/248—Connectivity information update
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W76/00—Connection management
    • H04W76/20—Manipulation of established connections
    • H04W76/27—Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
    • H04W84/10—Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
    • H04W84/12—WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
    • Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
    • Y02D30/70—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wireless communication networks

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  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a link processing method and device. A method, a first MLD receiving first information on a first link for determining whether a BSS configuration of a second link is updated; if the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated, the first MLD directly transmits the data frame on the second link after the switching or the state transition, and the data frame can be transmitted after the latest BSS configuration parameter is obtained without receiving the beacon frame on the second link after the switching or the state transition, so that the waiting time required before the data frame transmission is reduced by the method. In another method, the first MLD sends the second information to the second MLD to obtain the updated parameters or the message without update of the BSS configuration of the second link on the first link, so that the first MLD can directly transmit the data frame without receiving the beacon frame on the second link after the switching or the state transition, and the waiting time required before the data frame transmission is also reduced.

Description

Link processing method, multi-link device and computer readable storage medium
Technical Field
The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a link processing method, a multi-link device, and a computer-readable storage medium.
Background
To achieve very high throughput, the next generation of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards use multilink as one of the key technologies. The multilink means that each WLAN device can support the capability of transmitting and receiving in multiple frequency bands, so that the throughput rate is improved on the larger bandwidth. Where multiple frequency bands include, but are not limited to: 2.4GHz,5GHz,6GHz, etc., and access and transmission on multiple frequency bands is called multilink. Meanwhile, a device supporting multilink is referred to as a multilink device.
The multilink equipment comprises multilink equipment with multiple radio frequencies and multilink equipment with a single radio frequency. The multi-radio frequency multi-link equipment is provided with a plurality of radio frequency modules which can respectively work on different frequency bands or channels, and when the channel intervals of the respective work of the radio frequency modules are large enough, the links can independently run without mutual interference. The multi-radio frequency multi-link device works in a power saving mode, a link without data transmission can be in a dormant or non-enabled state, and a link with data transmission can be in an active or enabled state, namely the link needs to be converted to the active or enabled state from the dormant or non-enabled state. The single-radio-frequency multi-link device has a single radio-frequency module, and can work on different frequency bands or channels, but can only work on one frequency band at any time, namely, the device needs to be switched from one link to another link.
For the link of the link state transition or the link to which the link state transition is switched, in order to transmit the data frame, a beacon (beacon) frame needs to be received on the link of the link after the state transition or the link to which the link is switched, so as to obtain the latest BSS configuration required for data transmission by the link.
It can be seen that this process may result in an excessively long waiting time from the time when the link state is determined to be changed or switched to the link to the time when the data frame can be transmitted, that is, a fast change of the link state or a fast switch of the link cannot be achieved.
Disclosure of Invention
The application provides a link processing method, a multi-link device and a computer readable storage medium, which can realize the fast switching of link states or the fast switching of links.
In a first aspect, the present application provides a link processing method. In the method, the multi-link between the first MLD and the second MLD may include a first link and a second link. The first MLD may receive first information of a second link on the first link, the first information being used for the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated; if the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated, the first MLD may transmit the data frame on the switched or state-converted second link, without receiving the beacon frame on the switched or state-converted second link, and may transmit the data frame after obtaining the latest BSS configuration parameter.
In addition, for the situation that the data frame on the first link needs to be switched to the second link, in the method, the first MLD can know that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated before the first link is switched to the second link, so that the first MLD can directly transmit the data frame on the switched second link, and does not need to wait for receiving the beacon frame after switching to obtain the latest BSS configuration to transmit the data frame, thereby shortening the duration of the influence of the link switching process on the data frame transmission. In the method, the first MLD can know that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated before the state of the second link is converted, and can directly transmit the data frame on the second link after the state conversion without receiving a beacon frame, so that the time required by data frame distribution transmission is shortened.
The first link is a link in an enabling state, and the second link is a link switched or a link state converted.
Optionally, the data frame may be an uplink data frame, a quality of service NULL (Qos NULL) frame, or a link status notification frame. The link status notification frame is used to indicate that the second link is already in an awake (awake) or enabled (enable) state, so as to facilitate the second MLD to transmit the downlink data frame on the second link in time. In addition, the uplink data frame and the quality of service NULL (Qos NULL) frame can also inform the second MLD that the second link is already in awake or enable state.
In another optional implementation, if the BSS of the second link is configured with an update, the method further includes: the first MLD sends second information on the second link, wherein the second information is a BSS (base station system) configured sequence number, an access point configured sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon (beacon) value stored in the first MLD and used for identifying the second link; the first MLD receiving updated parameters of BSS configuration of the second link on the second link; the updated parameters of the BSS configuration of the second link are determined according to the second information.
Optionally, the second information of the second link is carried in a unicast probe request frame on the second link for transmission; the updated parameters of the BSS configuration of the second link are carried in a probe response frame received on the second link, the probe response frame being returned based on the unicast probe request frame. That is, if the BSS configuration of the second link is updated, the first MLD may obtain the updated parameters of the BSS configuration of the second link through the unicast probe request frame and the probe response frame on the second link. Wherein the unicast probe request frame carries second information, and the second information is used for the second MLD to determine the updated parameters required for the BSS configuration. One implementation is as follows: the first MLD sends a unicast detection request frame on a second link, wherein the unicast detection request frame comprises second information; the first MLD receives updated parameters for the BSS configuration of the second link on the second link. Wherein the updated parameter of the BSS configuration of the second link is obtained by the second MLD by comparing the second information with the first information.
As can be seen, in this embodiment, although the BSS of the second link is configured with the update, the first MLD may also obtain the updated parameters through one unicast probe request frame and one probe response frame, and it is not necessary to wait for receiving the beacon frame to obtain the configuration of the entire BSS to transmit the data frame, which is beneficial to reducing the waiting time required before transmitting the data frame and saving the signaling overhead. In addition, the first MLD already knows that the BSS of the second link is configured with the update and then sends the unicast detection frame, and compared with a mode that the first MLD does not know whether the update is sent directly or not, the method can reduce the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted in the link processing process.
Optionally, the first information is a BSS-configured sequence number, or an access point-configured sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon (beacon) value, which identifies the second link in the second MLD. The second information is a stored (or recorded) sequence number in the first MLD that identifies a BSS configuration of the second link, or an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon (check beacon) value. In this way, the first MLD compares whether the first information is consistent with the second information, and if so, it indicates that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated; if not, it indicates that the BSS configuration of the second link is updated. Thereby facilitating the first MLD to transmit data frames on the second link in time.
That is, the first information is a sequence number, an AP-CSN, or a check beacon value configured for a current BSS of the second link, and the second information is a sequence number, an AP-CSN, or a check beacon value configured for a BSS of the second link obtained before the first MLD. Therefore, if the current BSS configuration of the second link is not updated with respect to the BSS configuration of the second link obtained before the first MLD, the first information is equal to the second information; if the update exists, the first information is not equal to or larger than the second information.
Optionally, the second information is obtained from a beacon (beacon) frame or a multi-link probe response frame of the first link when the first MLD performs channel sounding, or is obtained from a multi-link association response frame of the first link when the first MLD performs link association. That is, the beacon (beacon) frame of the first link, the multilink probe response frame, or the multilink association response frame also carries other information such as the link status and the channel utilization of the second link.
Optionally, the beacon frame, the multilink probe response frame, or the multilink association response frame of the first link may carry information of multiple links or all links. The information of each link includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following in addition to the second information (e.g., AP-CSN or check beacon value): link status, channel utilization. Therefore, when the first MLD performs link switching or link state switching, the switched link or the state-switched link can be selected according to the information.
In an optional implementation manner, the first information of the second link is carried in a link handover response message, or a cross-link information report message, or a medium access control frame, or a traffic identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame, or a beacon frame, or a control field of a data frame, or a traffic identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame received on the first link. An implementation manner in which a first MLD receives first information of a second link on a first link includes: the first MLD receives a link switching response message, or a cross-link information report message, or a media access control frame, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame on the first link. The first information of the second link is carried in a link switching response message, a cross-link information report message, a media access control frame, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame.
Optionally, the first MLD may first send a link handover request message, or a cross-link information report request message, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame on the first link, so that the second MLD returns the first information of the second link through the response message. As can be seen, in this embodiment, the first MLD may actively request the first information of the link to be switched to obtain whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated, which is beneficial to avoiding the problem that the data frame can be transmitted only when the beacon frame is received after the switching or after the state transition, and reducing the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the link after the switching or after the state transition.
The service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame sent by the first MLD is sent when the first MLD needs to change the mapping relationship between the link and the service identifier, and further needs to convert the link states of some links from disable/doze to enable/awake states. Correspondingly, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame returned by the second MLD is also used for indicating whether the second MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link. If the second MLD accepts, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame comprises first information of a second link; and if the second MLD is not accepted, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame does not comprise the first information of the second link.
In another optional implementation, when the second MLD needs to change the mapping relationship between the link and the service identifier, and further needs to convert the link states of some links from disable/doze to enable/awake states, the second MLD may also send a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame to the first MLD, where the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame may carry the first information of the second link. Furthermore, the first MLD may perform the link state transition according to the first information of the second link by using the above embodiment, so as to save the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted.
Correspondingly, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame returned by the first MLD to the second MLD is used for indicating whether the first MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link. If the first MLD accepts, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame may carry information for confirming the acceptance; if the first MLD is not accepted, the service identifier and link mapping negotiation response frame may agree to reject the accepted information.
The first MLD or the second MLD may determine the link for switching the link state as needed, and further determine the number of links carried in the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame.
As can be seen, the optional implementation manner that the first information of the second link is carried in various messages is beneficial to enabling the first MLD or the second MLD to initiate a link switching request or a link state switching request in various scenarios, so as to further reduce the waiting time required for the switched link or the state-switched link to transmit data frames.
In a second aspect, the present application further provides a link processing method, where the link processing method of the aspect corresponds to the link processing method of the first aspect, and the link processing method of the aspect is set forth from the perspective of the second MLD.
In the method, the multilinks between the second MLD and the first MLD include a first link and a second link; the second link is a link to which the first MLD is switched from the first link or a link to which a link state is switched. The second MLD determines first information of the second link, wherein the first information is used for the first MLD to determine whether the Basic Service Set (BSS) configuration of the second link is updated; the second MLD transmits first information of the second link to the first MLD on the first link. Optionally, the second MLD may send the first information of the second link to the first MLD before the first MLD switches from the first link to the second link or a link state transition of the second link.
Therefore, the method is beneficial to determining whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated according to the first information, and further, if the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated, the first MLD can directly transmit the data frame on the switched or state-converted second link without receiving the beacon frame on the switched or state-converted second link, and can transmit the data frame after obtaining the latest BSS configuration parameter, thereby reducing the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the switched or state-converted second link.
In an alternative embodiment, the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated, and the second MLD may receive an uplink data frame, or a quality of service NULL (Qos NULL) frame, or a link status notification frame from the first MLD on the second link. The link state notification frame is used for indicating that the second link is in an awake state or an enabled state, so that the second MLD is facilitated to issue the downlink data frame in time.
In an alternative embodiment, the BSS of the second link is configured with the update, and the second MLD receives the second information from the first MLD on the second link; and determining the updated parameter of the BSS configuration of the second link according to the second information, and sending the updated parameter of the BSS configuration of the second link to the first MLD on the first link.
Optionally, the first information is a BSS-configured sequence number, an access point-configured sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon (beacon) value, which is used to identify the second link in the second MLD. The second information is a sequence number stored in the first MLD and used for identifying BSS configuration of the second link, or an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon (beacon) value. In this way, the first MLD may compare whether the first information is consistent with the second information, and if so, it indicates that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated; if not, it indicates that the BSS configuration of the second link is updated. Thereby facilitating the first MLD to transmit data frames on the second link in time.
That is, the first information is an identification of a current BSS configuration of the second link, and the second information is an identification of a BSS configuration of the second link obtained before the first MLD. Thus, if the most recent update of the second link or the current BSS configuration is not updated relative to the BSS configuration of the second link obtained before the first MLD, the first information is equal to the second information; if the first information is updated, the first information is not equal to or larger than the second information.
In an optional implementation manner, the second information of the second link is carried in a unicast probe request frame received on the second link; the updated parameters of the BSS configuration of the second link are carried for transmission in a probe response frame on the second link, the probe response frame being transmitted based on the unicast probe request frame. That is, the second MLD receives the second information on the second link, including: the second MLD receives a unicast detection request frame on the second link, wherein the unicast detection request frame comprises second information of the second link; and the second MLD sends a probe response frame on the second link, wherein the probe response frame comprises the parameters updated by the BSS configuration of the second link. Wherein the updated parameter of the BSS configuration of the second link is obtained by the second MLD according to the second information.
Optionally, the second information of the second link sent to the second MLD is obtained from a beacon (beacon) frame, a multilink probe response frame, or a multilink association response frame on the first link when the first MLD performs channel probing or link association. In one implementation, the second MLD transmits a beacon (beacon) frame, a multilink probe response frame, or a multilink association response frame of the first link over the first link. The beacon frame, the multilink probe response frame, or the multilink association response frame includes second information of a second link. Thereby facilitating the first MLD to report the second information to the second MLD on the second link to obtain updated parameters for the BSS configuration of the second link.
Optionally, a beacon (beacon) frame, a multilink probe response frame, or a multilink association response frame of the first link also carries information such as a link state and a channel utilization rate of the second link.
In an optional implementation manner, the first information of the second link is sent by the second MLD to the first MLD through a link handover response message, or a cross-link information report message, or a media access control frame, or a traffic identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame, or a beacon frame, or a control field of a data frame, or a traffic identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame on the first link. That is, the second MLD transmits the first information of the second link on the first link, including: the second MLD sends a link switching response message, or a cross-link information report message, or a media access control frame, or a traffic identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame, or a beacon frame, or a control field of a data frame, or a traffic identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame on the first link. The link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, the medium access control frame, or the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame, or the beacon frame, or the control field of the data frame, or the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame carry the first information of the second link.
Optionally, the second MLD may first receive a link handover request message, a cross-link information report request message, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame from the first MLD on the first link, and then return the above message. As can be seen, in this embodiment, the first MLD may actively request the first information of the link to be switched to obtain whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated, which is beneficial to avoiding the problem that the data frame can be transmitted only when the beacon frame is received after the switching or after the state transition, and reducing the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the link after the switching or after the state transition.
The service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame from the first MLD is sent when the first MLD needs to change the mapping relationship between the link and the service identifier, and further needs to switch the link states of some links from disable/doze to enable/awake states. Correspondingly, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame returned by the second MLD is also used for indicating whether the second MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link. Optionally, if the second MLD accepts, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame includes the first information of the second link; and if the second MLD is not accepted, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame does not comprise the first information of the second link.
In another optional embodiment, when the second MLD needs to change the mapping relationship between the link and the service identifier, and further needs to switch the link status of some links from disable/size to enable/awake, the second MLD may also send a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame to the first MLD, which may carry the first information of the second link. Furthermore, the first MLD may perform the link state transition according to the first information of the second link by using the above-described embodiment, so as to save the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted.
Accordingly, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame received by the second MLD is used for indicating whether the first MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link. Optionally, if the first MLD accepts, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame may carry information for confirming the acceptance; if the first MLD is not accepted, the service identifier and link mapping negotiation response frame may agree to reject the accepted information.
In the two embodiments, the first MLD or the second MLD may change the link in the link state as needed, and determine the number of links carried in the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame.
Therefore, the optional implementation manner that the first information of the second link is carried in various messages is beneficial to the first MLD or the second MLD being capable of initiating the link switching request or the link state switching request in various scenes, so as to further reduce the waiting time required by the switched link or the state-switched link to transmit the data frame.
In a third aspect, the present application further provides a link processing method. The method is different from the link processing method of the first aspect in that the second MLD determines whether the BSS configuration of the switched second link or the state-switched second link is updated, and then the updated parameter of the BSS configuration of the second link can be sent to the first MLD on the first link, or the first MLD is informed that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated. Therefore, the first MLD can directly transmit the data frame on the switched or state-converted second link, without receiving a beacon frame on the switched or state-converted second link, and the data frame can be transmitted only after the latest BSS configuration parameters are obtained, so that the waiting time required before the data frame on the switched or state-converted second link is transmitted is reduced.
In addition, for the situation that the data frame on the first link needs to be switched to the second link, in the method, the first MLD can know that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or the updated parameters before the first link is switched to the second link, so that the data frame can be directly transmitted on the switched second link without waiting for receiving the beacon frame after the switching to transmit the data frame, and the method is favorable for shortening the duration of the influence of the link switching process on the data frame transmission. In the method, before the state of the second link is switched, the first MLD can know that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or updated parameters are configured, so that the data frame can be directly transmitted on the second link after the state is switched, the data frame does not need to be transmitted after the beacon frame is received after the state is switched, and the time length required by data frame shunt transmission is shortened.
The link processing method of this aspect includes: the first MLD sends second information of a second link on the first link, and the second information is used for the second MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated; the first MLD receives third information on the first link, the third information being determined by the second MLD based on the second information. The third information is used to indicate that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or is an updated parameter. In this way, the first MLD may transmit the data frame directly on the second link according to the third information. Therefore, the first MLD can directly transmit the data frames on the second link after switching or state transition, and the waiting time required before the second link after switching or state transition transmits the data frames is reduced.
When the BSS configuration of the second link is updated, the third information includes a parameter updated by the BSS configuration of the second link; the third information may indicate that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated when the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated.
The data frame may be an uplink data frame or a quality of service NULL (Qos NULL) frame, so as to inform the second MLD that the second link is already in an awake/enable state. Optionally, the first MLD may further transmit a link status notification frame on the second link, where the link status notification frame is used to indicate that the second link is already in an awake/enable state, so as to facilitate the second MLD to timely send a downlink data frame on the second link.
The second information is a sequence number stored in the first MLD, which identifies BSS configuration of the second link, or an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon (check beacon) value. A BSS-configured sequence number, or an access point-configured sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon (check beacon) value in the second MLD that identifies the second link is the first information. In this way, the second MLD may compare whether the first information and the second information are consistent, and if so, it indicates that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated; if not, it indicates that the BSS configuration of the second link is updated. Thereby, the second MLD is facilitated to obtain whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated according to the first information and the second information.
That is, the first information is a sequence number, an AP-CSN, or a check beacon value configured for the current BSS of the second link, and the second information is a sequence number, an AP-CSN, or a check beacon value configured for the BSS of the second link obtained before the first MLD. Therefore, if the latest update of the second link or the current BSS configuration is not updated with respect to the BSS configuration of the second link obtained before the first MLD, the first information is equal to the second information; if the update exists, the first information is not equal to or larger than the second information.
Optionally, the second information is obtained from a beacon (beacon) frame or a multi-link probe response frame of the first link when the first MLD performs channel probing. Alternatively, the second information is obtained from a multi-link probe response frame of the first link when the first MLD performs link association.
Optionally, the beacon (beacon) frame, the multilink probe response frame, and the multilink association response frame of the first link may carry information of multiple links or all links. The information of each link includes the second information, and further includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: link status, channel utilization, etc. This embodiment is advantageous in that the first MLD can select a switched link or a state-switched link from the link switching or the link state switching according to the information when performing the link switching or the link state switching.
In an optional implementation, the first MLD may send a link handover request message, or a cross-link information report request message, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame on the first link to inform the second MLD of the second information of the second link. That is to say, the link handover request message, or the cross-link information report request message, or the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame carries the second information of the second link.
Accordingly, the first MLD may receive a link handover response message, or a cross-link information report message, or a medium access control frame, or a traffic identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame on the first link to obtain the third information of the second link. In one implementation, a first multi-link device (MLD) receives third information on a first link, comprising: the first MLD receives a link switching response message, or a cross-link information report message, or a medium access control frame, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame on the first link. The link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, the media access control frame, and the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame carry the third information of the second link.
The service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame from the first MLD is sent when the first MLD needs to change the mapping relationship between the link and the service identifier, and further needs to convert the link states of some links from disable/size to enable/awake states. Accordingly, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame returned by the second MLD is used for indicating whether the second MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link. Optionally, if the second MLD accepts, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame includes third information of the second link; and if the second MLD is not accepted, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame does not include third information of the second link.
As can be seen, in this embodiment, the first MLD may actively report the second information of the link to be switched to obtain the third information, which is beneficial to avoiding the problem that the data frame can be transmitted only when the beacon frame is received after the link is switched or the state is switched, and reducing the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the switched link.
In a fourth aspect, the present application further provides a link processing method. The method corresponds to the link processing method described in the third aspect, which is set forth from the perspective of the second MLD. In this aspect, the second MLD determines whether the BSS configuration of the switched second link or the state-switched second link is updated, and then sends the updated parameter to the first MLD on the first link or informs the first MLD that there is no update. Therefore, the first MLD can directly transmit the data frame on the switched or state-converted second link without receiving the beacon frame on the switched or state-converted second link, and the data frame can be transmitted only after the latest BSS configuration parameters are obtained, so that the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the switched or state-converted second link is reduced.
In addition, for the situation that the data frame on the first link needs to be switched to the second link, in the method, the first MLD can know that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or the updated parameters before the first link is switched to the second link, so that the data frame can be directly transmitted on the switched second link without receiving the beacon frame after the switching, and the duration of the influence of the link switching process on the data frame transmission is shortened. In the method, before the state of the second link is switched, the first MLD can know that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or updated parameters are not updated, so that the data frame can be directly transmitted on the second link after the state is switched, the data frame can be transmitted without waiting for receiving a beacon frame after the state is switched, and the time length required by data frame shunt transmission is shortened.
The link processing method of this aspect includes: the second MLD receives second information of the second link in the first link, and the second information is used for the second MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated; the second MLD sends third information on the first link, the third information being determined by the second MLD according to the second information, the third information indicating that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or the updated parameter.
Wherein, when the BSS configuration of the second link is updated, the third information includes a parameter updated by the BSS configuration of the second link; the third information is used to indicate that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated when the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated.
It can be seen that, since the second MLD can tell the first MLD whether the BSS of the second link is updated or the updated parameter on the first link, the first MLD can directly transmit the data frame on the second link after the handover or the state transition without receiving the beacon frame, thereby reducing the waiting time required before the second link after the handover or the state transition transmits the data frame.
Optionally, after the second MLD transmits the third information on the first link, a data frame may be received on the second link, where the data frame includes an uplink data frame, a quality of service NULL (Qos NULL) frame, or a link status notification frame. The link status notification frame is used to indicate that the second link is already in the awake/enable state, so that the second MLD is facilitated to send the downlink data frame on the second link in time.
The second information is a sequence number stored in the first MLD and used for identifying BSS configuration of the second link, or an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon (beacon) value. A BSS-configured sequence number, or an access point-configured sequence number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon (check beacon) value in the second MLD that identifies the second link is the first information. In this way, the second MLD may compare whether the first information and the second information are consistent, and if so, it indicates that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated; if not, it indicates that the BSS configuration of the second link is updated. Thereby, the second MLD is beneficial to obtain whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated according to the first information and the second information.
That is, the first information is a sequence number, an AP-CSN, or a check beacon value configured for the current BSS of the second link, and the second information is a sequence number, an AP-CSN, or a check beacon value configured for the BSS of the second link obtained before the first MLD. Thus, if the most recent update of the second link or the current BSS configuration is not updated relative to the BSS configuration of the second link obtained before the first MLD, the first information is equal to the second information; if the update exists, the first information is not equal to or larger than the second information.
Optionally, the second information is obtained from a beacon (beacon) frame or a multilink probe response frame of the first link when the first MLD performs channel probing; alternatively, the second information is obtained from a multi-link probe response frame of the first link when the first MLD performs link association.
Optionally, the beacon (beacon) frame, the multilink probe response frame, and the multilink association response frame of the first link may carry information of multiple links or all links. The information of each link includes, in addition to the second information, one or more of the following, but is not limited to: link status, channel utilization, etc. This embodiment is advantageous in that the first MLD can select a switched link or a state-switched link from the link switching or the link state switching according to the information when performing the link switching or the link state switching.
In an optional implementation manner, the second MLD may receive a link handover request message, or a cross-link information report request message, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame from the first MLD on the first link to obtain the second information of the second link. That is to say, the link switching request message, or the cross-link information reporting request message, or the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame carries the second information of the second link.
Accordingly, the second MLD may transmit a link handover response message, or a cross-link information report message, or a medium access control frame, or a traffic identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame on the first link to transmit third information of the second link to the first MLD. Namely, the link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, the media access control frame, and the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame carry the third information of the second link.
The service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame from the first MLD is sent when the first MLD needs to change the mapping relationship between the link and the service identifier, and further needs to convert the link states of some links from disable/size to enable/awake states. Accordingly, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame returned by the second MLD is used for indicating whether the second MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link. Optionally, if the second MLD accepts, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame includes third information of the second link; and if the second MLD is not accepted, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame does not include third information of the second link.
As can be seen, in this embodiment, the first MLD may actively report the second information of the link to be switched or the state transition link to obtain the third information.
It can be seen that the second information and the third information of the second link in the foregoing embodiments may be carried in various messages, which is beneficial for the first MLD or the second MLD to initiate a link switching request or a link state switching request in various scenarios in time, so as to further reduce the waiting time required before the switched link or the state-switched link transmits a data frame.
In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a multi-link device, which may include a plurality of functional modules, configured to correspondingly execute the method provided by the first aspect, or the method provided by any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect.
In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a multi-link device, which may include a plurality of functional modules for performing the method provided by the second aspect, or the method provided by any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect, respectively.
In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a multi-link device, which may include a plurality of functional modules, and is configured to correspondingly execute the method provided in the third aspect, or the method provided in any one of the possible implementation manners of the third aspect.
In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a multi-link device, which may include a plurality of functional modules, for correspondingly performing the method provided by the fourth aspect, or the method provided by any one of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect.
In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a multi-link device for executing the link processing method described in the first aspect. The multi-link device may include: a memory and a processor, transceiver coupled with the memory, wherein: the transceiver is used to communicate with other communication devices, such as multi-link devices. The memory is configured to store implementation code of the link processing method described in the first aspect, and the processor is configured to execute the program code stored in the memory, that is, to execute the method provided by the first aspect, or the method provided by any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect.
In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a multi-link device for executing the link processing method described in the second aspect. The multi-link device may include: a memory and a processor, transceiver coupled with the memory, wherein: the transceiver is used to communicate with other communication devices, such as multi-link devices. The memory is used for storing implementation codes of the link processing method described in the second aspect, and the processor is used for executing the program codes stored in the memory, namely executing the method provided by the second aspect, or any one of the possible implementation manners of the second aspect.
In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a multi-link device for performing the link processing method described in the third aspect. The multi-link device may include: a memory and a processor, transceiver coupled with the memory, wherein: the transceiver is used to communicate with other communication devices, such as multi-link devices. The memory is configured to store implementation codes of the link processing method described in the third aspect, and the processor is configured to execute the program codes stored in the memory, that is, to execute the method provided by the third aspect, or the method provided by any one of the possible implementation manners of the third aspect.
In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a multi-link device, configured to execute the link processing method described in the fourth aspect. The multi-link device may include: a memory and a processor, transceiver coupled with the memory, wherein: the transceiver is used to communicate with other communication devices, such as multi-link devices. The memory is configured to store implementation code of the link processing method described in the fourth aspect, and the processor is configured to execute the program code stored in the memory, that is, to execute the method provided by the fourth aspect, or the method provided by any one of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect.
In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which may include: a processor, and one or more interfaces coupled to the processor. The processor may be configured to call the link processing method provided in the first aspect, or an implementation program of the link processing method provided in any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect, from the memory, and execute instructions included in the program. The interface may be configured to output a link processing result of the processor.
In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which may include: a processor, and one or more interfaces coupled to the processor. The processor may be configured to call the link processing method provided in the second aspect from the memory, or an implementation program of the link processing method provided in any one of the possible embodiments of the second aspect, and execute the instructions included in the program. The interface may be configured to output a link processing result of the processor.
In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which may include: a processor, and one or more interfaces coupled to the processor. The processor may be configured to call the link processing method provided in the third aspect, or an implementation program of the link processing method provided in any one of the possible implementation manners of the third aspect, from the memory, and execute the instructions included in the program. The interface may be configured to output a link processing result of the processor.
In a sixteenth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which may include: a processor, and one or more interfaces coupled to the processor. The processor may be configured to call the link processing method provided in the fourth aspect, or an implementation program of the link processing method provided in any one of the possible embodiments of the fourth aspect, from the memory, and execute the instructions included in the program. The interface may be configured to output a link processing result of the processor.
In a seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system comprising a first multi-link device and a second multi-link device, wherein:
the first multi-link device may be configured to perform the link processing method provided in the first aspect, or the link processing method provided in any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect; the second multi-link device may be configured to perform the link processing method provided by the second aspect, or the link processing method provided by any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect.
In an eighteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system comprising a first multi-link device and a second multi-link device, wherein:
the first multi-link device may be configured to perform the link processing method provided by the third aspect, or the link processing method provided by any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect; the second multi-link device may be adapted to perform the link handling method provided by the fourth aspect, or the link handling method provided by any of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect.
A nineteenth aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium, on which a program code for implementing the link processing method provided by the first aspect or the link processing method provided by any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect is stored, where the program code includes an execution instruction for executing the link processing method provided by the first aspect or the link processing method provided by any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect.
A twentieth aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a program code for implementing the link processing method provided by the second aspect or the link processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect, the program code including execution instructions for executing the link processing method provided by the second aspect or the link processing method provided in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect.
A twenty-first aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a program code for implementing the link processing method provided in the third aspect or the link processing method provided in any of the possible implementation manners of the third aspect is stored, and the program code includes an execution instruction for executing the link processing method provided in the third aspect or the link processing method provided in any of the possible implementation manners of the third aspect.
In a twenty-second aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, where the computer-readable storage medium stores program code for implementing the link processing method provided in the fourth aspect or the link processing method provided in any of the possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, and the program code includes execution instructions for executing the link processing method provided in the fourth aspect or the link processing method provided in any of the possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect.
In a twenty-third aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product comprising a computer program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the link processing method described in the above first aspect or the link processing method provided in any one of the possible implementation manners of the first aspect.
In a twenty-fourth aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product comprising a computer program, which when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the link processing method of the second aspect described above or the link processing method provided in any one of the possible embodiments of the second aspect.
In a twenty-fifth aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product comprising a computer program, which when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the link processing method of the third aspect described above or the link processing method provided in any one of the possible embodiments of the third aspect.
In a twenty-sixth aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product comprising a computer program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the link processing method described in the fourth aspect above or the link processing method provided in any one of the possible embodiments of the fourth aspect.
Drawings
Fig. 1A is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 1B is a schematic structural diagram of another communication system provided in the embodiment of the present application;
fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a link association method provided in an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a link switching method according to an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a link state transition method provided in an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 5A is a schematic diagram of a link processing method according to an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 5B is a schematic diagram of another link processing method according to an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 5C is a schematic diagram of another link processing method provided in the embodiment of the present application;
fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a beacon frame according to an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a multi-link probe response frame according to an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a link switching element according to an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a link state transition element according to an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a multi-link device provided in an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of another multi-link device provided in an embodiment of the present application;
fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application.
Detailed Description
The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application are described below with reference to the drawings.
The embodiment of the present application provides a link processing method based on the communication systems shown in fig. 1A and fig. 1B, and the method can implement fast transition of link states or fast handover of links. The communication system 100 shown in fig. 1A and 1B includes at least two multi-link devices (MLDs); one is an Access Point (AP) multilink device, and the other is a non-access point (non-AP) multilink device.
Fig. 1A takes a single-radio-frequency non-AP MLD and a multi-radio-frequency AP MLD as examples, at any time, only one link of the single-radio-frequency non-AP MLD can communicate with the AP MLD, and other links are in a disable state. Fig. 1B illustrates a multi-rf non-AP MLD and a multi-rf AP MLD, where at any time, the multi-rf non-AP MLD may have one or more links to communicate with the AP MLD. In fig. 1A and 1B, the non-AP MLD includes three STAs (e.g., STA1, STA2, and STA 3), and the AP MLD includes three APs (e.g., AP1, AP2, and AP 3). Wherein, the STA1 and the AP1 may be associated, and may adopt a link (link) 1 to communicate; STA2 is associated with AP2 and can adopt link2 to communicate; STA3 associates with AP3, and link3 communication may be used as an example. In addition, the correlation operation of the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD on the link1 can be correspondingly executed by the STA1 and the AP 1. For example, "AP MLD sends the first information on link 1; the non-AP MLD receives the first information "on link1, and can be: "AP 1 sends first information on link 1; STA1 receives this first information on link 1. Correspondingly, the related operation of the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD on the link2 can be correspondingly executed by the STA2 and the AP 2; the correlation operation of the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD on the link3 can be correspondingly executed by the STA3 and the AP 3. For convenience of explanation, the embodiments of the present application take non-AP MLD and AP MLD as examples of execution subjects, respectively.
1. Communication system
In this embodiment, the communication system 100 may be a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or a cellular network, or other Wireless communication systems that support multiple links to perform transmission in parallel. The embodiments of the present application are mainly described in terms of a network deploying IEEE 802.11, but various aspects related to the present application may be extended to other networks using various standards or protocols, such as BLUETOOTH (tm), high performance wireless LAN (HIPERLAN), which is a wireless standard similar to IEEE 802.1 standard and is mainly used in europe, and Wide Area Network (WAN), wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), personal Area Network (PAN), or other now known or later developed networks. Thus, the various aspects provided herein may be applicable to any suitable wireless network, regardless of the coverage and radio access protocol used.
2. Multi-link device
A multi-link device refers to a device capable of operating in multiple frequency bands or channels, for example, the frequency bands or channels in which the multi-link device can operate may include, but are not limited to: all or a part of sub 1GHz,2.4GHz,5GHz,6GHz and high-frequency 60 GHz. The AP MLD and non-AP MLD shown in FIG. 1B can respectively work at 2.4GHz,5GHz,6GHz. The multiple channels may be channel partitions based on any frequency band, such as 160MHz channels, 80MHz channels, 40MHz channels, and 20MHz channels at a 5GHz frequency band. A multi-link device may implement wireless communications in compliance with 802.11 family protocols, for example, in compliance with an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) station, or in compliance with an 802.11 be-based or 802.11 be-compatible station, to implement communications with other devices. The other devices may be multilink devices or not.
The multilink device includes one or more affiliated stations STA(s), which is a logical station and may operate on one link, or multiple logical stations may operate on the same link. The affiliated Station may be an Access Point (AP) or a non-Access Point (non-AP STA). For convenience of description, a multi-link device whose affiliated station is an AP in the present application may be referred to as a multi-link AP or a multi-link AP device or an AP multi-link device (AP multi-link device) (e.g., AP MLD in fig. 1A and 1B), and a multi-link device whose affiliated station is a non-AP STA may be referred to as a multi-link STA or a multi-link STA device or a STA multi-link device (STA multi-link device) or a non-AP MLD (e.g., non-AP MLD in fig. 1A and 1B). For convenience of description, the "multilink device including the subordinate STA" is also briefly described as "multilink device including STA" (as in fig. 1A, 1B) or "multilink device including AP" in the embodiments of the present application.
In this embodiment of the present application, a multi-link device (for example, AP MLD and non-AP MLD in fig. 1A and fig. 1B) is a device having a wireless communication function, and the device may be a device of a whole machine, and may also be a chip or a processing system installed in the whole machine device, and the device installed with the chip or the processing system may implement the method and the function of the embodiment of the present application under the control of the chip or the processing system. For example, the multi-link device may be a single-antenna (or single radio frequency module) multi-link device, or may also be a multi-antenna (or multi-radio frequency module) multi-link device, and the number of antennas included in the multi-link device is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.
In the embodiment of the present application, a non-AP MLD (e.g., the non-AP MLD in fig. 1A and 1B) has a wireless transceiving function, and can support 802.11 series protocols to communicate with an AP MLD or other non-AP MLDs or single-link devices. For example, the non-AP MLD may be any user communication device that allows a user to communicate with the AP and thus the WLAN, such as, but not limited to, a tablet, desktop, laptop, notebook, ultra-mobile Personal Computer (UMPC), handheld Computer, netbook, personal Digital Assistant (PDA), cell phone, etc., which may be networked, or an internet of things node in the internet of things, or a vehicle communication device in the vehicle networking, etc. Optionally, the non-AP MLD may also be a chip and a processing system in the above terminals.
In the embodiment of the present application, an AP MLD (e.g., the AP MLD in fig. 1A and 1B) is a device for providing services for a non-AP MLD, and may support 802.11 series protocols. For example, the AP MLD may be a communication entity such as a communication server, a router, a switch, a bridge, or the like, or the AP MLD may include various forms of macro base stations, micro base stations, relay stations, or the like, and of course, the AP MLD may also be chips and processing systems in these various forms of devices, so as to implement the methods and functions in the embodiments of the present application.
And, the multilink equipment can support the transmission of high speed low time delay, along with the continuous evolution of wireless local area network application scene, the multilink equipment can also be applied to more scenes, for example, for sensor nodes (for example, intelligent water meter, intelligent electric meter, intelligent air detection node) in a smart city, intelligent equipment (for example, intelligent camera, projector, display screen, television, stereo set, refrigerator, washing machine and the like) in a smart home, nodes in the internet of things, entertainment terminals (for example, wearable equipment such as AR, VR and the like), intelligent equipment (for example, printer, projector and the like) in smart office, car networking equipment in the car networking, and some infrastructures (for example, automatic vending machine, business super self-help navigation platform, self-service cash register equipment, self-service ordering machine and the like) in daily life scene. Specific forms of the AP MLD and non-AP MLD are not particularly limited in the embodiments of the present application, and are merely exemplary. The 802.11 protocol may be a protocol supporting 802.11be or compatible with 802.11 be.
3. Link identification
In the embodiment of the present application, the link identifier characterizes a link corresponding to a certain BSS operating on a certain channel. Optionally, if multiple basic service sets exist on one channel, multiple link identifiers may be used to respectively characterize a link corresponding to each Basic Service Set (BSS).
A link sometimes also refers to an AP or STA operating on the link, and for ease of illustration, the STA on the link may be referred to herein as a link, and accordingly, operation of a multi-link device on a link may also be referred to as operation of the AP or STA of the link. The non-AP MLD receives the first information of link2 from link1, which can also be called that STA1 in the non-AP MLD receives the first information of link2 from link 1; accordingly, the AP MLD side may be: AP1 in AP MLD transmits the first information of link2 on link 1.
Wherein, the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD can determine the association relationship between the plurality of STAs of the non-AP MLD and the plurality of APs of the AP MLD through the association operation. For example, in FIG. 2, the non-AP MLD sends a multi-link association request (multi-link association request) frame on link 1; the multi-link association request frame may carry information of STA2 and STA3 in addition to information of STA1 capability and the like. Wherein, the Link1 can be called a transmission Link (Transmitted Link), and the Link2 and the Link3 are called Non-transmission links (Non-Transmitted Link). Accordingly, the AP MLD returns a multi-link association response (multi-link association response) frame on link 1; the multi-link association response frame may carry information of AP2 and information of AP3 in addition to information such as a Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) of AP 1. Further, STA1, STA2 and STA3 of non-AP MLD can establish association with AP1, AP2 and AP3 of AP MLD, respectively, according to the multi-link association response frame. Thus, the corresponding association relationship as shown in fig. 1A and 1B is obtained: (AP 1, STA 1), (AP 2, STA 2), and (AP 3, STA 3). Optionally, fig. 1A and fig. 1B take these corresponding relationships as examples, and the AP MLD may also establish other corresponding association relationships, such as (AP 1, STA 2), (AP 2, STA 1), (AP 3, STA 3), and the like, by changing the sequence of the carried AP information.
In addition, fig. 1A, fig. 1B, fig. 2 and other subsequent schematic diagrams, taking the communication system 100 as an example, such as one AP MLD and one non-AP MLD for explanation, are for more clearly explaining the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application and do not constitute a limitation to the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present application, and it is known by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems with the evolution of the communication system and the occurrence of a new service scenario. For example, the communication system formed by the multi-link device MLD may also be: a communication system composed of AP MLD1 and AP MLD2, a communication system composed of non-AP MLD1 and non-AP MLD2, and so on. For another example, the AP MLD includes one or more APs (AP 1, AP2 \8230: \8230; AP N), the non-AP MLD includes one or more STAs (STA 1, STA2 \8230: \8230; STA N), multiple links Link (Link 1, link2 \8230; _ Link N) exist between the AP MLD and the non-AP, where the communication Link between AP1 and STA1 is Link1, the communication Link between AP2 and STA2 is Link2, the communication Link between AP N and STA N is Link N, and so on.
4. Link switching, link state transition and problem to be solved
Due to the fact that the single radio frequency module is provided, although the single radio frequency module can work on different frequency bands or channels, the single radio frequency module can only work on one frequency band or channel at any time, when a certain link causes the RSSI (received signal strength indicator) of the link to be degraded due to movement, the single radio frequency multi-link device can be switched from one link to another link, for example, from a link deployed on a 5GHz frequency band to a link deployed on a 2.4GHz frequency band. As shown in fig. 3, assuming that the non-AP MLD is a single-radio multi-link device, link1 is in an enable state, if data frames are to be transmitted through link2, the non-AP MLD needs to switch from link1 to link2, accordingly, link1 is switched from enable to disable, link2 is switched from disable to enable, and link3 is always in disable during this process. Since the single-radio-frequency multi-link device is switched between different frequency bands or channels and the relevant operating parameters of the radio-frequency module need to be configured, the link2 is switched from disable to enable, and a switch delay (switch delay) exists. In addition, when link2 transmits the data frame, STA2 needs to obtain the relevant parameters configured by the current AP2 for the BSS corresponding to link 2. For example, the STA2 obtains, through the multi-link association response frame shown in fig. 2, that the parameters configured by the AP2 for the BSS corresponding to the link2 may have updates with the current BSS configuration parameters of the AP2, for example, there are updates in one or more of the parameters shown in table 1, so that after the link2 is switched from disable to enable, the non-AP MLD also needs to correctly receive a beacon (beacon) frame on the link2, where the beacon frame carries the BSS parameters currently configured by the AP2 for the link2, so that the STA can transmit the data frame.
Table 1 part of parameters of BSS configuration
Figure BDA0002456772860000141
Figure BDA0002456772860000151
For a multi-radio multi-link device, in order to reduce power consumption in the case of a small amount of data or no delay-sensitive traffic, some of the links may be in a dormant (doze) or disabled (disable) state, and when the amount of data is large or real-time traffic exists, the links in the dormant (doze) or disabled (disable) state may be turned back on to be in an awake (awake) or enabled (enable) state. For example, as shown in fig. 4, assuming that the non-AP MLD102 is a multi-radio multi-link device, link1 is in an enable state, and link2 and link3 are in a doze state. If a data frame needs to be transmitted on link2, then non-AP MLD needs to switch link2 from doze to awake. Since each radio frequency module in the multi-radio frequency multi-link device does not need to reconfigure relevant working parameters and the like, the link2 is switched from doze to awake, and there is no switching delay. Since the AP2 may update the BSS configuration parameters during the period when the STA2 is in the doze state, after the STA2 switches from the doze state to the awake state, it needs to correctly receive a beacon (beacon) frame on the link2, where the beacon frame carries the current parameters configured by the AP2 for the BSS corresponding to the link2, and thus, the data frame can be transmitted.
It can be seen that, no matter link state switching in a multi-radio-frequency multi-link device or link switching in a single-radio-frequency multi-link device, in order to transmit a data frame, a beacon (beacon) frame needs to be received on a link after state switching or a link to which the link is switched, and a current BSS configuration of a second link is obtained, so that a waiting time required before the link after state switching or the link to which the link is switched transmits the data frame is too long, that is, fast switching of a link state or fast switching of a link cannot be achieved.
In order to solve the problem, the present application provides a link processing method, in which a first MLD receives first information of a second link from a first link, and since the first information is used for the first MLD to determine whether a BSS configuration of the second link is updated, the first MLD may directly transmit a data frame on the second link when the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated, so that a fast transition of a link state of the second link or a fast handover from the first link to the second link can be achieved.
The present application further provides a link processing method, in the link processing method, a second MLD determines whether BSS configuration of a switched second link or a state-switched second link is updated, and further sends the updated parameter to a first MLD on the first link, or informs that the first MLD is not updated. Therefore, the first MLD can directly transmit the data frames on the second link after switching or state conversion without receiving beacon frames, and the waiting time required before the second link after switching or state conversion transmits the data frames is reduced.
That is, one link processing method is to confirm whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated by the first MLD, and the other link processing method is to confirm whether the BSS configuration of the second link stored in the first MLD needs to be updated by the second MLD. The two link processing methods are described in the sixth and seventh sections, respectively. The embodiments described in the embodiments of the present application may be applicable to a single radio frequency multi-link device, and may also be applicable to a multi-radio frequency multi-link device, unless otherwise specified.
5. Related concepts of the present application
To facilitate an understanding of the embodiments of the present application, some concepts or terms are first explained.
The first link is a link in an enable (enable) state in a plurality of links between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD; the second link is a link in a disable (disable) state or a sleep (doze) state in the plurality of links, and the second link is a link to which the non-AP MLD is switched from the first link or a link whose link state needs to be switched.
For the non-AP MLD with single radio frequency, the first link is a link in an enable state in the plurality of links, and the second link is a link in a disable state in the plurality of links and is switched. For a multi-radio non-AP MLD, a first link is a link in an enable state, a link in an awake state, or an anchor (anchor) link in the multiple links; the second link is a link in a disable state or a doze state in the plurality of links, and the state of the second link needs to be switched from the disable/doze state to an enable/awake state.
For the non-AP MLD with single radio frequency, after the first link is switched to the second link, the first link is in a disable state, and the second link is in an enable state. For the non-AP MLD with multiple radio frequencies, after the first link is switched to the second link, the second link is in an enable state, but the subsequent state of the first link is not limited, that is, the first link can be in a disable/doze/enable/awake state according to the situation. Optionally, for a multi-radio non-AP MLD, there may be multiple links that need to be state-switched, and the processing method for each link is the same as the link state switching method of the second link. Optionally, the first information and the second information of the multiple links that need to be state-switched may be carried in one message, or may be carried in multiple same or different messages.
The first information of the second link is used for the first MLD to determine whether the basic service set BSS configuration of the second link is updated. Optionally, the first information is a BSS-configured sequence number, or an access point-configured sequence number (AP-CSN), or a beacon check value, which identifies the second link that is newly configured by the second MLD.
The second information of the second link is used for the second MLD to determine whether the basic service set BSS configuration of the second link is updated. The second information is a sequence number stored in the first MLD, which identifies BSS configuration of the second link, or an access point configuration sequence number (AP-CSN), or a beacon check value (check beacon).
Optionally, in the link processing method described in the sixth section below, the second information of the second link may be specifically used by the second MLD to determine the updated parameter of the BSS configuration of the second link. In the link processing method in the second part, the second information may be specifically used by the second MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated or not and the updated parameter.
The parameter updated by the BSS configuration of the second link described herein refers to a parameter that needs to be updated, with respect to the current BSS configuration of the second link in the second MLD, for the BSS configuration of the second link stored in the first MLD. Or, the updated parameter of the BSS configuration of the second link is whether the parameter configured by the BSS of the second link after the second link is disabled/doze is updated relative to the parameter before the second link is disabled/doze. Therefore, the first information of the second link may be used to assist the first MLD to determine whether the basic service set BSS configuration of the second link is updated, for example, the first MLD determines whether the basic service set BSS configuration of the second link is updated according to the first information and the second information. The second information of the second link may be used to assist the second MLD in determining whether the basic service set BSS configuration of the second link is updated, for example, the second MLD determines whether the basic service set BSS configuration of the second link is updated according to the first information and the second information.
In the method described in the seventh section below, the third information is determined by the second MLD based on the second information for the second link and transmitted on the first link. The third information is used to indicate that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or is an updated parameter. When the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated, the third information may indicate that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated; when the BSS configuration of the second link is updated, the third information includes parameters updated by the BSS configuration of the second link.
The BSS configures related parameters indicating the BSS, and the stations on the link must perform related operations according to the configured parameters of the BSS. The updated parameters of the BSS configuration may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the parameters shown in table 1 above. The BSS configuration of the second link in the first MLD is obtained when the first MLD performs channel sounding or link association, so the BSS configuration of the second link in the first MLD may also be referred to as: the initial BSS configuration of the second link in the first MLD or the stored BSS configuration of the second link in the first MLD. Accordingly, the BSS configuration of the second link in the second MLD may be referred to as: the current BSS configuration of the second link.
The link processing method according to the embodiment of the present application may be applied to, but is not limited to, the communication systems shown in fig. 1A to fig. 4, where for convenience of illustration, the first MLD is exemplified by a non-AP MLD, the second MLD is exemplified by an AP MLD, and the first link and the second link included in the multi-link between the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD may be exemplified by link1 and link2, respectively, link2 is a link switched or state-switched from link1, that is, link1 is an enable state, link2 is a doze/disable state, and link2 needs to be switched from the doze/disable state to the awake/enable state. The state of link3 is not discussed for the moment.
6. Link processing method
1. Link processing method without updating BSS configuration of link2
Referring to fig. 5A, fig. 5A is a schematic flowchart illustrating a link processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The link processing method may include the steps of:
101. determining first information of link2 by the AP MLD, wherein the first information is used for determining whether the BSS configuration of the link2 is updated or not by the non-AP MLD;
102. the AP MLD sends first information of link2 on link 1;
103. the non-AP MLD receives the first information of the link2 at the link1, and if the BSS configuration of the link2 is not updated, the non-AP MLD executes the step 104;
104. the non-AP MLD transmits data frames using link 2.
Wherein step 101 may be an optional step. Optionally, when the non-AP MLD is a single-link multi-link device, there is a switching delay before the link2 is used to transmit the data frame; when the non-AP MLD is a multilink device, the switching delay does not exist. In addition, in step 104, when the non-AP MLD transmits a data frame using link2, the BSS configuration used is the BSS configuration of the link2 in the non-AP MLD.
The data frame may be an uplink data frame or a quality of service NULL (Qos NULL) frame or a link status notification frame. The link state notification frame is used to indicate that the second link is already in the awake/enable state, so as to facilitate the second MLD to transmit the downlink data frame on the second link in time. Optionally, the uplink data frame or the quality of service NULL (Qos NULL) frame can also indicate that the second link is already in the awake/enable state.
It can be seen that, as shown in fig. 5A, since the BSS configuration of link2 is not updated, the non-AP MLD directly transmits the data frame in the switched link2, and does not need to receive the beacon frame on link2 after the switching or after the state transition to transmit the data frame, as in the processing method shown in fig. 3 or fig. 4, so as to reduce the waiting time required before the link2 transmits the data frame.
Optionally, after step 103, the non-AP MLD may switch to link2 or convert the state of link2 into awake/enable state according to the first information of link 2.
2. Link2 BSS configuration updated link processing method
In one embodiment, in step 104, if the BSS of link2 is configured with the update, as shown in fig. 5B, the link processing method is different from the link processing method shown in fig. 5A in that the BSS of link2 is configured with the update, and the following steps may be performed:
105. the non-AP MLD sends second information to the AP MLD on the link2, wherein the second information is a serial number configured by a BSS (base station system) of the link2 in the non-AP MLD, or an access point configuration serial number (AP-CSN) or a check beacon (check beacon) value;
106. and the AP MLD receives the second information and sends the updated parameters of the BSS configuration of the link2 on the link2 according to the second information.
As shown in fig. 5C, the second information in fig. 5B may be carried in a unicast probe request (probe request) frame on link2, and the third information may be carried in a probe response (probe response) frame on link 2. The implementation mode can be as follows: the non-AP MLD sends a unicast detection request frame to the AP MLD on link2, wherein the unicast detection request frame comprises the second information; and the non-AP MLD receives a probe response frame from the AP MLD on the link2, wherein the probe response frame is a reduced probe response frame which comprises updated parameters of BSS configuration of the link 2. The updated parameters of the BSS configuration of link2 are determined by the AP MLD according to the second information.
For example, the AP MLD determines which parameters of the current BSS configuration of link2 (i.e., the BSS configuration of link2 corresponding to the first information) are updated with respect to the BSS configuration of link2 corresponding to the second information, and may return all updated parameters or updated key parameters to the non-AP MLD in the probe response frame.
107. The non-AP MLD receives the updated parameters for the BSS configuration of link 2.
Further, the link processing method may further include: and the non-AP MLD updates the BSS configuration of the link2 in the non-AP MLD by using the updated parameters of the BSS configuration of the link2, and transmits the data frame on the link2 according to the updated BSS configuration of the link 2. Wherein, the non-AP MLD also updates the serial number/AP-CSN/check beacon value of BSS configuration for marking the link2 correspondingly.
Accordingly, when the BSS configuration of link2 is not updated, step 104 may be: the non-AP MLD transmits data frames on link2 by using BSS configuration of link2 in the non-AP MLD.
It can be seen that, if the BSS of link2 is configured with an update, as shown in fig. 5B, the non-AP MLD needs to send the second information, receive the updated parameters configured by the BSS of link2, and then transmit the data frame on link 2. In this embodiment, the first MLD already knows that the BSS of the second link is configured with the update and then sends the unicast probe frame, and does not need to send the unicast probe request frame because it is not known whether there is the update or not.
In another embodiment, if the BSS configuration of link2 is updated, the non-AP MLD may receive a beacon frame on link2, and transmit a data frame according to the BSS configuration parameters carried in the beacon frame after correctly receiving the beacon frame. This embodiment, in combination with fig. 5A, avoids the problem of too long waiting time caused by having to wait for receiving the beacon frame before transmitting the data frame, and thus, this embodiment can still reduce the waiting time required before transmitting the data frame on link 2.
In step 103, how the non-AP MLD determines whether the BSS configuration of link2 is updated according to the first information may be: the non-AP MLD determines whether the first information is consistent with the second information, and if so, the non-AP MLD indicates that the BSS configuration of the link2 is not updated; if not, it indicates that the BSS configuration of link2 is updated. The first information is a BSS-configured sequence number or an AP-CSN or check beacon value which identifies the second link in the AP MLD. The second information is a BSS configured sequence number or AP-CSN or check beacon value which is used for identifying the second link in the non-AP MLD.
For example, the first information is AP-CSN 1, and the second information is AP-CSN 2; if AP-CSN 1 is equal to AP-CSN 2, the BSS configuration of link2 corresponding to AP-CSN 1 is not updated with respect to the BSS configuration of link2 corresponding to AP-CSN 2, that is, the BSS configuration of link2 is not updated. If the AP-CSN 1 is not equal to or greater than the AP-CSN 2, the BSS configuration of link2 corresponding to the AP-CSN 1 is updated relative to the BSS configuration of link2 corresponding to the AP-CSN 2, that is, the BSS configuration of link2 is updated. Further, the BSS configuration of link2 may be updated by obtaining updated parameters through steps 105 to 107 described above.
In this embodiment, the second information of link2 in the non-AP MLD may be acquired and stored by the non-AP MLD from a beacon (beacon) frame or a probe response frame of link1, or acquired and stored by the non-AP MLD from a multilink association response frame of link 1. Therefore, before the non-AP MLD switches the link to link2 or the link state of link2 is switched, the second information can be used to perform the above comparison with the first information to determine whether the BSS configuration of link2 is updated.
The beacon (beacon) frame, the probe response frame or the multilink association response frame of the link1 may also carry other information of the link2 and other related information of the link in addition to the second information of the link 2. Which are described separately below.
For example, as shown in fig. 6, the second information is AP-CSN as an example, and the beacon frame of link1 may carry one or more information including, but not limited to: an Enable/disable status of each link, an AP-CSN, a channel utilization (channel utilization) and a number of stations of a link in Enable, a link identification (link ID), an operation class (operating class), a channel number (channel number), and a Basic Service Set Identification (BSSID). Wherein, the Enable/disable state of each link is used for indicating whether the AP on each link in the AP MLD is started; the AP-CSN of each link is used for assisting the non-AP MLD to carry out link switching or link state conversion in the link processing. The channel utilization rate of the link at enable is used for selecting the link when the non-AP MLD recommends link switching or requires link switching, or used for selecting the recommended or required link when the non-AP MLD initiates the recommended link state switching or requires link state switching. And the number of the sites of the enabled link is used for assisting the non-AP MLD to evaluate the congestion degree of the AP according to the number of the sites accessed by the AP of the link.
The probe response frame may be a multi-link probe response (multi-link probe response) frame. The Multi-link protocol response frame and the Multi-link Association response frame carry information of each link in a similar manner, for example, elements of the non-transmission link different from the information of the transmission link are carried in a link-index element (link-index element) of each non-transmission link. For example, as shown in fig. 7, link1 is a transmission link, so that link-index elements (link-index elements) of a non-transmission link do not have information of link 1. Accordingly, the link-index element shown in fig. 7 may carry a timestamp (timestamp), a beacon Interval (beacon Interval), and a capability information indication (capability information) in addition to the Enable/disable status of the link, the AP-CSN, the channel utilization (channel utilization) and the number of stations of the link at Enable, the link identification (link ID), the operation class (operating class), the channel number (channel number), and the Basic Service Set Identification (BSSID).
Optionally, a Multi-link probe request frame (Multi-link probe request) or a Multi-link Association request frame may carry: the number of radio frequencies of the device and the link state. The number of the radio frequencies of the equipment is used for indicating whether the link shares one radio frequency with other links. For example, the link uses 1 bit to indicate whether the link shares a radio frequency with the previous link. The previous link refers to a link before the link when multiple pieces of link information are indicated, and the state of the previous link may be disable or Enable, wherein if Enable, it may further indicate whether awake or doze state.
Optionally, a corresponding relationship between an arrangement order of information of each link in the Multi-link Association request frame and an arrangement order of information of each link in the Multi-link Association response frame may be used to determine an Association condition between each STA in the non-AP MLD and each AP in the AP MLD. Therefore, the AP MLD can adjust the arrangement position or order of information of each link in the Multi-link Association response frame, and change the Association between each STA and each AP.
There is one possibility of multilink aggregation: only BSSs belonging to the same Service Set Identifier (SSID) are allowed to aggregate, that is, a data packet of one Traffic Identifier (TID) is allowed to be transmitted through multiple links, that is, a TID can be mapped onto multiple links. So in the Multi-link Association Request shown in fig. 7, SSID element does not need to be carried in Non-transmitted link profile info.
In step 102, the first information of the second link may be carried in a link switch response (link switch response) message, a cross-link information report (cross-link info report) message, a media access control (MAC control) frame, or a TID-to-link mapping response (TID-to-link mapping response) message of a mapping relationship between a service identifier and a link on the first link. Optionally, after step 103, the non-AP MLD may switch from link1 to link2 or may change the state of link2 to awake/enable state according to a link switch response message, or cross-link info report message, or TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message.
Optionally, after receiving the cross-link info report message, the non-AP MLD may return an Acknowledgement (ACK) message to the AP MLD on link 1. Optionally, when cross-link information (cross-link info) is carried in an a-control (control) field in the MAC control frame, the non-AP MLD may not need to return an Acknowledgement (ACK) message after receiving the MAC control frame.
Wherein the link switch response message is returned by the AP MLD in response to a link switch request (link switch request) message from the non-AP MLD. Wherein, the TID-to-link mapping notification response message is returned by the AP MLD in response to a TID-to-link mapping notification request message of the mapping relationship between the traffic identifier and the link sent by the non-AP MLD. Alternatively, the cross-link information report (cross-link info report) message may be returned by the AP MLD in response to a cross-link information request (cross-link info request) message sent by the non-AP MLD. Therefore, when the link quality of the link1 is reduced or cross-link info needs to be known to assist link switching, the STA in the non-AP MLD or the non-AP MLD initiates a link switching request or a cross-link information request. That is, before step 101, the non-AP MLD may send the request message to request for the link handover or the link state transition, and then perform steps 102 to 107. It can be seen that these request messages and response messages are beneficial for the non-AP MLD to initiate a request for link switching or link state transition in various scenarios, and transmit data frames on the switched or state-transitioned link in time.
3. Link switching method initiated by non-AP MLD and responded by AP MLD
In the link switching method, the non-AP MLD can utilize the link switch request message, cross-link info request message and TID-to-link mapping negotiation request message to initiate a request; the AP MLD may respond or reply with a corresponding link switch response message, cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message. In the embodiments, the request modes of link switching are different, and the information carried in the request messages is determined, and correspondingly, the information carried in the response messages is also determined according to different response modes, but in combination with the above embodiments, the response messages at least carry the first information of the switched link. The following various optional request modes and response modes greatly improve the flexibility of link switching operation, and are convenient for adopting the corresponding request mode and response mode according to the requirements of a specific scene.
The link switch response message and the cross-link info report message are used for indicating whether the AP MLD accepts the link switching request initiated by the non-AP MLD or not through the carried information. The TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message is used for indicating whether the AP MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the non-AP MLD-initiated service identifier and the link. The mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link may actually be a link switching request, so the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message is used to indicate whether the AP MLD accepts the link switching request initiated by the non-AP MLD.
As shown in Table 2, the request patterns of non-AP MLD may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: (1a) A target link requesting a link handover and not providing a handover; (2a) Suggesting link switching and providing one or more switched target links; (3a) Requiring link handover and providing a target link for handover and the target link for handover is not subject to modification. Accordingly, the response patterns of the AP MLD may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: (1b) Receiving link switching and indicating a switched target link; (2b) Replacing a target link of the proposed or required handover, i.e. a target link which does not accept the handover requested or proposed by the non-AP MLD, and additionally providing one or more proposed target links; (3b) Not accepting the target link requested to be switched by the non-AP MLD, indicating a unique switched target link, and indicating that the non-AP MLD can only be switched to the target link; (4b) The rejection of the link switch may optionally further indicate the reason for the rejection. The target link in this section is a link to be switched to, that is, the second link in the above embodiments, such as link 2.
As shown in table 2, the optional response modes include a response mode (1 b) and a response mode (4 b) for the request mode (1 a). For the request mode (2 a), the selectable response modes comprise a response mode (1 b), a response mode (2 b), a response mode (3 b) and a response mode (4 b). For the request mode (3 a), the selectable response modes comprise a response mode (1 b) and a response mode (4 b). The following describes different request modes, which may be carried by the above-mentioned link switch request message, cross-link info request message, and TID-to-link mapping connectivity request message, and the corresponding response modes, which may be carried by the above-mentioned link switch response message, cross-link info request message, and TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message. Namely, the link switch response message, cross-link info report message, and TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message carry not only the first information of link2 but also other information of link2 or information of other links.
TABLE 2
Figure BDA0002456772860000201
Figure BDA0002456772860000211
For the request mode (1 a), the link switch request message, or cross-link info request message, or TID-to-link mapping connectivity request message may carry a link code for link switch indication, which is used to inform the AP of the reason for link switch. For example, the reason for the link switching may be a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) difference, or a time delay is large, or a TID-to-link mapping (TID-to-link mapping) for requesting to change a traffic identifier to a link, or a real-time traffic start, or the like.
Correspondingly, for the answer mode (1 b) of the request mode (1 a), the link switch response message returned by the AP MLD, or cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message may include but is not limited to one or more of the following information: status indication (status code), link identification of a target link to which to switch, and first information. Wherein, the status code is used to indicate whether the AP MLD accepts the link switching request of the non-AP MLD. For example, if accepted, the link switch response message, or cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message may further carry the link identifier and the first information (e.g., AP-CSN) of the target link to which the handover is to be performed.
For the answer mode (4 b) of the request mode (1 a), the link switch response message, or cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message returned by the AP MLD may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following information: status code of rejection of link handover request, reason of rejection.
For the request mode (2 a), the link switch request message, or cross-link info request message, or TID-to-link mapping connectivity request message may carry information including, but not limited to, the following information: link handover reason and link identification of a target link for handover.
Correspondingly, for the answer mode (1 b) of the request mode (2 a), the link switch response message returned by the AP MLD, or cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message may include but is not limited to one or more of the following information: status indication (status code) and first information of the requested target link.
For the answer mode (2 b) of the request mode (2 a), the link switch response message, or cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message returned by the AP MLD may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following information: and providing link identifications of one or more additional target links capable of being switched and related information of the target links. The relevant information of these target links includes first information, link Switch mode (Link Switch mode), link Switch count or offset of target Switch time, link identification, channel utilization, and number of STAs. In the answering mode, the non-AP MLD is further required to execute the operations of steps 104 to 107 in the above embodiment according to the first information, and further, the AP MLD can know the target link which the non-AP MLD finally selects for switching through the link through which the non-AP MLD transmits the data frame. That is, this embodiment decides by the non-AP MLD to which link the AP-MLD proposes to switch to, then the link switch response message, or cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message should include information for all proposed links to assist the non-AP MLD decision.
Wherein the link switching mode is used to indicate a transmission limit before the link switching. When it is set to 1, it indicates that the station should stop transmitting before the link is switched; when it is set to 0, the station transmission is not restricted. The link switch count is used to indicate the number of beacon frames transmitted before switching to a new link. When it is set to 1, it indicates that the link switching occurs just before the next beacon frame transmission time; when it is set to 0, it indicates that a link switch occurs at any time after the frame containing the information is transmitted. Or an offset (offset) indicating the target switching time. Optionally, the offset of the target switching time needs to consider the transmission time of the next beacon frame on the switched link, so that for the above embodiment that needs to receive the beacon frame on the switched link, it is beneficial to avoid that the non-AP MLD waits for too long time. Wherein, the channel utilization rate and the number of the STAs are used for the non-AP MLD to know the number of the STAs accessed on the target links and the channel condition.
For the response mode (3 b) of the request mode (2 a), the link switch response message, or cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping notification response message returned by the AP MLD may include but is not limited to the following information: and the link identification and related information of the only target link which can be switched. The information related to the target link may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: first information, link Switch mode (Link Switch mode), link Switch count or offset of target Switch time, link identification, channel utilization, and number of STAs.
For the answer mode (4 b) of the request mode (2 a), the link switch response message, or cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message returned by the AP MLD may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following information: status code of rejection of link handover request, reason of rejection.
For the request mode (3 a), the link switch request message, or cross-link info request message, or TID-to-link mapping negotiation request message may carry a link code for link switch indication (indication) and a link identifier of a target link that requires handover.
Correspondingly, for the answer mode (1 b) of the request mode (3 a), the link switch response message, or cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message returned by the AP MLD may include but is not limited to one or more of the following information: a status code of accepting the link switching request, and a link identification of the target link, first information of the target link, a link switching mode, a link switching count or an offset of a target switching time, a channel utilization rate, and the number of STAs.
For the response mode (4 b) of the request mode (3 a), the link switch response message, or cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message returned by the AP MLD may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following information: status code of rejection of link handover request, reason of rejection.
4. Link state conversion method initiated by non-AP MLD and responded by AP MLD
In the link state switching method, the non-AP MLD can use the link switch request message, cross-link info request message and TID-to-link mapping notification request message to initiate a request; the AP MLD may respond or reply with a corresponding link switch response message, cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message. The same as the above embodiment of the link switching method initiated by the 3 rd point non-AP MLD and responded by the AP MLD, the only difference is that the 3 rd point target link is the switched link, and the target link in this embodiment is the link of state transition, so the relevant content in this embodiment may be to modify "switching" into "state transition" in the above table 2 and the relevant content, as shown in table 3. Wherein, based on table 3, it is stated that the information possibly carried by each request message and each response message may refer to the relevant contents of table 2, and will not be described in detail herein.
The link switch response message and the cross-link info report message are used for indicating whether the AP MLD accepts the state transition request initiated by the non-AP MLD or not through the carried information. Wherein, the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message is used for indicating whether the AP MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the traffic identifier and the link initiated by the non-AP MLD. Optionally, the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link may actually be a link switching request, so the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message is used to indicate whether the AP MLD accepts a link state switching request initiated by the non-AP MLD.
TABLE 3
Figure BDA0002456772860000231
5. Link state conversion method initiated by AP MLD and responded by non-AP MLD
In this embodiment, since the request message is initiated by the AP MLD, the request message sent by the AP MLD needs to carry the first information of the state transition link; accordingly, the non-AP MLD may return a response message indicating whether the non-AP MLD accepts the request. If not, the response message can carry the parameters of the reason of the non-acceptance; if the link state transition request is received, the response message may carry the received link identifier of the target link, or may not carry the link identifier but indicate that the link state transition request is received.
The following description uses the TID-to-link mapping negotiation request message as the initiation of AP MLD, and uses TID-to-link mapping negotiation response as the response of non-AP MLD to describe the possible request method, response method and the information that may be carried. Wherein, the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message is used to indicate whether the non-AP MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the traffic identifier and the link initiated by the AP MLD. Optionally, the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link may actually be a link state transition request, so the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message is used to indicate whether the non-AP MLD accepts the link state transition request initiated by the AP MLD.
TABLE 4
Figure BDA0002456772860000232
Figure BDA0002456772860000241
As shown in table 4, the request manner of the AP MLD may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: (1a) Suggesting state transitions and suggesting one or more state transition target links; (2a) The state transition is required and one or more state transition target links are required and no target link changes are accepted. Accordingly, the non-AP MLD response patterns may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: (1b) Receiving all target links which are suggested or require state transition to carry out state transition; (2b) Accepting one or more of the proposed state transition target links for state transition; (3b) The rejection state transition, optionally, may further indicate the reason for the rejection. The target link in this part is a link to be changed from a link in a disable or doze state to a link in an Enable or Awake state, that is, a second link, such as link2, in the above embodiments.
The optional response modes for the request mode (1 a) comprise a response mode (1 b), a response mode (2 b) and a response mode (3 b). For the request mode (2 a), the selectable response modes comprise a response mode (1 b) and a response mode (3 b). The following describes the information that may be carried by the TID-to-link mapping connectivity request frame and the information that may be carried by the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response frame, which is a part of the corresponding response method.
For the request mode (1 a), the TID-to-link mapping connectivity request frame may carry the indication of the link state transition reason (request code for link status switch) and the related information of the target link of one or more state transitions. The related information of the target link includes, in addition to the first information (e.g., the current AP-CSN of the target link), link identifier, network Allocation Vector (NAV) information, channel utilization rate, number of STAs, and link policy.
And for the response mode (1 b) corresponding to the request mode (1 a), the TID-to-link mapping negotiation response frame carries a state indication. The status indication is used to indicate that the non-AP MLD accepts link state transitions and state transitions of the proposed or required target link.
And for the response mode (2 b) corresponding to the request mode (1 a), the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response frame carries the state indication and the link identifications of one or more target links. The state indication is used for indicating the non-AP MLD to accept the link state transition requested by the AP MLD; the link identification of the one or more target links is selected by the non-AP MLD from the target links suggested by the AP MLD.
And for the response mode (3 b) corresponding to the request mode (1 a), the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response frame carries a state indication. The status indication is used to indicate that the non-AP MLD does not accept the requested state transition. Further, the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response frame may also carry the reason for the non-acceptance.
6. Link switching method initiated by AP MLD and responded by non-AP MLD
In this embodiment, since the request message is initiated by the AP MLD, the request message sent by the AP MLD needs to carry the first information of the handover link; accordingly, the non-AP MLD may return a response message indicating whether the non-AP MLD accepts the request. If not, the response message can carry the parameters of the reason of the non-acceptance; if the link state transition request is received, the response message may carry the received link id of the target link, or may not carry the link id but indicate that the link state transition request is received.
Taking the AP MLD to initiate by using a TID-to-link mapping connectivity request message, the non-AP MLD takes the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response as an example, wherein the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message is used for indicating whether the non-AP MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the traffic identifier and the link initiated by the AP MLD. Optionally, the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link may actually be a link switching request, so the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message is used to indicate whether the non-AP MLD accepts the link switching request initiated by the AP MLD.
In the link switching method, the same as the implementation of the link state switching method initiated by the 5 th point AP MLD and responded by the non-AP MLD, the only difference is that the 5 th point target link is a link for state switching, and the target link in this implementation is a link for switching, so the relevant content in this implementation may be to modify the above table 4 and the "state switching" in the relevant content into "switching", as shown in table 5. The information that may be carried by each request message and each response message based on table 5 may refer to the relevant content in table 4, and will not be described in detail here.
TABLE 5
Figure BDA0002456772860000251
For the above various request methods and response methods, as in the embodiment at point 3, a link switch request message, a cross-link info request message, and a TID-to-link mapping negotiation request message, as well as the link switch response message, the cross-link info request message, and the TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message may carry a newly defined link switch element (link switch element).
As shown in FIG. 8, the link switch element may include a link switch request (link switch request) field and a link switch type (link switch type) field. In each field or frame in the present application, a field identifier (element ID) is used to indicate a certain field, and a Length (Length) is used to indicate the Length of the field. The link switch request field is used to indicate whether the STA of the link transmitting the link switch element is a STA of a link switch request or a STA of a link switch response. The link switch type field is used to indicate one of the various request modes and response modes. For example, the link switch type field is 0 to 2, which indicates that the message carrying the link switch element is a link switch request message from the request method (1 a) to the request method (3 a); the link switch type fields of 3 to 6 indicate that the message carrying the link switch element is a link switch response message from the response mode (1 b) to the response mode (4 b). Further, the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD may determine information to be carried by the request and information to be carried by the response according to the link switching element.
For the above various request methods and response methods, as in the embodiment at point 5, the TID-to-link mapping negotiation request message and the TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message may carry a newly defined link state transition element (link state transition element). The structure of the link status transition element may include a link status transition request (link status transition request) field and a link status transition type (link status transition type) field, similar to those shown in fig. 8. The link status transition request field is used to indicate whether an STA transmitting the link status transition element is an STA that requests a link status transition or an STA that responds to a link status transition. The link status transition type field is used to indicate one of the various request modes and response modes described above. For example, the link status transition type fields are 0 to 1, respectively, indicating that the message carrying the link status transition element is one of the request methods (1 a) to (2 a); the link status transition type fields of 2 to 4 indicate that the message carrying the link status transition element is one of the above-described response modes (1 b) to (3 b). Further, the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD may determine information to be carried by a request and information to be carried by a response according to the link state transition element.
7. Another link processing method
The method is different from the link processing method described in the sixth section in that the second MLD determines whether the BSS configuration of the handed-over second link or the state-transited second link is updated, and then transmits the updated parameter to the first MLD on the first link or informs that the first MLD is not updated. Therefore, the first MLD can directly transmit the data frame on the switched or state-converted second link, and does not need to receive the beacon frame on the switched or state-converted second link, and the data frame can be transmitted only after the latest BSS configuration parameters are obtained, so that the method reduces the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the switched or state-converted second link.
For convenience of illustration, the first MLD is exemplified by a non-AP MLD, the second MLD is exemplified by an AP MLD, and the multilink between the AP MLD and the non-AP MLD includes a first link and a second link, which may be exemplified by link1 and link2, respectively, link2 is a link switched or state-switched from link1, that is, link1 is an enable state, link2 is a size/disable state, and link2 needs to be switched from the size/disable state to the awake/enable state. The state of link3 is not discussed at this point.
Referring to fig. 9, the link processing method may include the following steps:
201. the non-AP MLD sends second information of the link2 on the link1, and the second information is used for the AP MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the link2 is updated or not;
202. the AP MLD receives second information of link2 on link 1;
203. the AP MLD sends third information on the link1, wherein the third information is determined by the AP MLD according to the second information, and the third information is used for indicating that the BSS configuration of the link2 is not updated or is updated;
204. the non-AP MLD receives the third information on link1 and transmits the data frame on link2 according to the third information.
It can be seen that the non-AP MLD can directly transmit the data frame before receiving the beacon frame on link2 after switching or state transition, which reduces the waiting time required before link2 transmits the data frame.
When the BSS configuration of link2 is updated, the third information includes a parameter updated by the BSS configuration of the second link; when the BSS configuration of link2 is not updated, the third information may indicate that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated.
When the BSS of link2 is configured with the update, transmitting, by the non-AP MLD, the data frame on link2 according to the third information in step 204 may include: and the non-AP MLD updates the BSS configuration of the link2 in the non-AP MLD by using the updated parameters of the BSS configuration of the link2, and transmits the data frame on the link2 according to the updated BSS configuration of the link 2. Wherein, the non-AP MLD also updates the serial number/AP-CSN/check beacon value of BSS configuration for marking the link2 correspondingly. When the BSS configuration of link2 is not updated, the non-AP MLD transmits a data frame on link2 using the BSS configuration of link2 in the non-AP MLD.
The data frame may be an uplink data frame or a quality of service NULL (Qos NULL) frame, so as to inform the second MLD that link2 is already in awake/enable state. Optionally, the first MLD may also transmit a link status notification frame on link2, where the link status notification frame is used to indicate that link2 is already in an awake/enable state, so as to facilitate the second MLD to send a downlink data frame on link2 in time.
The second information of link2 is a serial number stored in the first MLD, which identifies BSS configuration of the link2, or an access point configuration serial number (AP-CSN), or a check beacon (check beacon) value. The BSS-configured sequence number, or the access point-configured sequence number (AP-CSN), or the check beacon (check beacon) value, in the second MLD, which identifies link2, is the first information. In this way, the second MLD may compare whether the first information and the second information are consistent, and if so, it indicates that the BSS configuration of link2 is not updated; if not, the BSS configuration of link2 is updated. Therefore, the AP MLD can obtain whether the BSS configuration of the link2 is updated or not according to the first information and the second information.
That is, the first information of link2 is the current BSS configured sequence number, AP-CSN, or check beacon value of link2, and the second information is the BSS configured sequence number, AP-CSN, or check beacon value of link2 obtained before non-AP MLD. Therefore, if the latest update of link2 or the current BSS configuration is not updated with respect to the BSS configuration of link2 obtained before the non-AP MLD, the first information is equal to the second information; if the first information is updated, the first information is not equal to or larger than the second information.
For example, the first information of link2 is AP-CSN 1, and the second information of link2 is AP-CSN 2; if AP-CSN 1 is equal to AP-CSN 2, the BSS configuration of link2 corresponding to AP-CSN 1 is not updated with respect to the BSS configuration of link2 corresponding to AP-CSN 2, that is, the BSS configuration of link2 is not updated. If AP-CSN 1 is not equal to or greater than AP-CSN 2, the BSS configuration of link2 corresponding to AP-CSN 1 is updated with respect to the BSS configuration of link2 corresponding to AP-CSN 2, i.e. the BSS configuration of link2 is updated. Further, the updated parameters of the link2 BSS configuration update may be obtained by the third information.
Optionally, the second information of link2 is obtained from a beacon (beacon) frame or a multilink probe response frame of link1 when the non-AP MLD performs channel probing. Alternatively, the second information of link2 is obtained from the multi-link probe response frame of link1 when the non-AP MLD performs link association.
Optionally, the beacon (beacon) frame, the multilink probe response frame, and the multilink association response frame of the link1 may carry information of multiple links or all links. The information for each link includes the second information, and further includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: link status, channel utilization, etc. This embodiment is advantageous in that the non-AP MLD can select a switched link or a state-switched link from the link switching or the link state switching according to the information when performing the link switching or the link state switching.
The carrying manner of the second information in the beacon (beacon) frame of link1 can be referred to the above related explanation of the sixth part of fig. 6. The manner of carrying the second information in the multi-link probe response frame can be found in the related description of fig. 7 in the sixth section. For other information carried, see the description in the sixth section above.
In an optional implementation manner, the non-AP MLD may send a link handover request message, or a cross-link information report request message, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame on link1, so as to inform the AP MLD of the second information of link 2. That is to say, the link switching request message, or the cross-link information reporting request message, or the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame carries the second information of link 2.
Accordingly, the non-AP MLD may receive a link handover response message, or a cross-link information report message, or a medium access control frame, or a traffic identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame on link1 to obtain the third information of link 2. In one implementation, the receiving, by the first multi-link device (MLD), the third information on link1 includes: and the non-AP MLD receives a link switching response message, or a cross-link information report message, or a medium access control frame, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame on the link 1. The link switching response message, the cross-link information report message, the media access control frame, and the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame carry the third information of link 2.
The service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame from the non-AP MLD is sent when the non-AP MLD needs to replace the mapping relationship between the link and the service identifier, and further needs to convert the link state of some links from disable/doze to enable/awake state. Accordingly, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame returned by the AP-MLD is used for indicating whether the AP-MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link. Optionally, if the AP-MLD accepts, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame includes the third information of link 2; and if the AP-MLD does not accept the AP-MLD, the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame does not comprise the third information of link 2.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the non-AP MLD may actively report the second information of the link to be switched to obtain the third information, which is beneficial to further shorten the waiting time required before the data frame is transmitted on the switched link.
From the perspective of non-AP MLD initiation, it is described that the non-AP may carry other information besides the second information of link2, and the AP MLD may also carry other information besides the third information of link 2.
1. Link switching method initiated by non-AP MLD and responded by AP MLD
In the link switching method, the non-AP MLD can utilize the link switch request message, cross-link info request message and TID-to-link mapping connectivity request message to initiate a request; the AP MLD may respond or reply with a corresponding link switch response message, cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message. The request messages of link switching are different in request mode, and the information carried in the request messages is determined, and correspondingly, the information carried in the response messages is also determined in response mode, but in combination with the above embodiments, the request messages at least carry the second information of the switched link, and the response messages at least carry the third information of the switched link. The various optional request modes and response modes greatly improve the flexibility of link switching operation, and are convenient for adopting corresponding request modes and response modes according to the requirements of specific scenes.
The link switch response message and the cross-link info report message are used for indicating whether the AP MLD accepts the link switching request initiated by the non-AP MLD or not through the carried information. The TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message is used for indicating whether the AP MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the non-AP MLD-initiated service identifier and the link. The mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link may actually be a link switching request, so the TID-to-link mapping connectivity response message is used to indicate whether the AP MLD accepts the link switching request initiated by the non-AP MLD.
The difference between the request message and the response message in this part and the above sixth part point 3 is that the request message in this part carries at least the second information of the switched link, and the response message carries at least the third information of the switched link, but does not necessarily carry the first information of the switched link. For further details, reference is made to point 3 of the sixth section above, which is not described in detail here.
2. Link state switching method initiated by non-AP MLD and responded by AP MLD
In the link state switching method, the non-AP MLD can use the link switch request message, cross-link info request message and TID-to-link mapping notification request message to initiate a request; the AP MLD may respond or reply with a corresponding link switch response message, cross-link info report message, TID-to-link mapping negotiation response message. The only difference is that the 3 rd point target link is a switched link, and the target link in this embodiment is a link for state transition, so the related content in this embodiment may be modified from "handover" to "state transition" in the seventh part of the related content of point 1.
Optionally, the difference between the request message and the response message in this part and point 4 of the sixth part is that the request message in this part carries at least the second information of the switched link, and the response message carries at least the third information of the switched link, but does not necessarily carry the first information of the switched link. For further details, reference may be made to point 4 of the above sixth section, which is not described in detail here.
It can be understood that the above embodiments are focused on, and the implementation manner not described in detail in one embodiment may refer to other embodiments, which are not described in detail here. Furthermore, the various embodiments described herein may be implemented as stand-alone solutions or combined in accordance with inherent logic and are intended to fall within the scope of the present application. In other words, the various embodiments shown above may be combined with each other. For example, the link processing method as described in point 1 in the sixth section above and the link processing method as described in point 2 in the sixth section above may be combined. As another example, the methods described at points 1, 2 and 3 in the sixth section may be combined. As another example, the methods described in point 1, point 2, and point 4 of the sixth section may be combined. As another example, the methods described in point 1, point 2, and point 5 of the sixth section may be combined. As another example, the methods described at points 1, 2 and 6 in the sixth section may be combined. As another example, the seventh portion of the link processing method illustrated in FIG. 9 may be combined with the method described in the seventh portion, point 1. As another example, the seventh portion of the link processing method illustrated in FIG. 9 may be combined with the method described in the seventh portion, point 2.
The link processing methods provided by the embodiments of the present application are introduced above from the perspective of interaction between the first MLD and the second MLD, for example, from the perspective of interaction between the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD. The related operations of non-AP MLD and AP MLD before and after the switching of link1 and link2 are described by taking the link1 and the link2 as examples. In the related operations of the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD, the operations of the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD on link1 can be respectively executed by STA1 corresponding to link1 and AP1 corresponding to link1, and correspondingly, the operations of the non-AP MLD and the AP MLD on link2 can be respectively executed by STA2 corresponding to link2 and AP2 corresponding to link 2.
In order to implement fast switching of links and fast switching of link states, the embodiments of the present application introduce the following multiple link devices.
An embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link device, where the multi-link device includes one or more sites, and a first site and a second site are taken as examples:
the first station receives first information of a second link on a first link, wherein the first information is used for the multi-link equipment to determine whether the Basic Service Set (BSS) configuration of the second link is updated or not;
and the second station transmits data frames on the second link after switching or link state conversion when the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated.
Therefore, before the first link is switched to the second link or the link state of the second link is switched, the multilink device can know whether the BSS configuration parameters of the second link are updated or not, and when the BSS configuration parameters of the second link are not updated, the second station can directly transmit the data frames on the second link without receiving beacon frames after the second link is switched to or after the link state is switched, so that the waiting time required before the data frames are transmitted after the second link is switched to or after the link state is switched is shortened.
The multilink device according to the embodiment of the present application has any function of the first MLD in the first aspect of the invention and any function of the non-AP MLD in the sixth section of the specific embodiment, and for all technical details thereof, reference may be made to the contents of the first aspect of the invention and the sixth section of the specific embodiment, and details thereof are not repeated here.
An embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link device, where the multi-link device includes one or more access points, and a first access point and a second access point are taken as examples:
the first access point determines first information of a second link, and transmits the first information of the second link on the first link, wherein the first information is used for a non-AP MLD to determine whether a Basic Service Set (BSS) configuration of the second link is updated.
It can be seen that, before the multi-link device switches the first link to the second link or performs link state transition on the second link, the first access point may notify the first station of the first information of the second link, so as to facilitate the second station to determine whether the BSS configuration parameter of the second link is updated. If the BSS configuration parameter of the second link is not updated, the second station may directly transmit the data frame on the second link without waiting for receiving the beacon frame after switching to the second link or performing link state conversion on the second link, which is beneficial to saving the waiting time required before the second link transmits the data frame.
The multilink device in the embodiment of the present application has any function of the second MLD in each link processing method described in the second aspect of the present disclosure, or has any function of the AP MLD in each link processing method described in the sixth aspect, and details are not repeated here.
An embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link device, which includes one or more stations, for example, a first station and a second station,
the first station sends second information of a second link on the first link at the first link, and the second information is used for determining whether BSS configuration of the second link is updated or not by the AP MLD;
the first station receives third information of the second link on the first link, wherein the third information is determined by the AP MLD according to the second information, and the third information is used for indicating that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or is updated with parameters;
and the second station transmits the data frame on the second link according to the third information.
Therefore, before the first link is switched to the second link or the link state of the second link is switched, the second station can acquire the third information, so that after the multi-link device is switched to the second link, the data frame can be directly transmitted on the second link according to the third information without waiting for receiving the beacon frame, and the time length required by waiting before the data frame is transmitted on the second link can be saved.
The multilink device according to the embodiment of the present application has any function of the first MLD in the third aspect of the invention, or any function of the non-AP MLD in the seventh part of the specific implementation manner, which is not described herein again.
The embodiment of the present application provides a multi-link device, where the multi-link device includes one or more access points, and taking a first access point and a second access point as an example, the first access point receives second information of a second link on the first link, where the second information is used by an AP MLD to determine whether BSS configuration of the second link is updated;
the first access point transmits third information of the second link on the first link, the third information being determined by the AP MLD according to the second information, the third information being used for indicating that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or the updated parameters.
Therefore, before the first link is switched to the second link or the link state of the second link is switched by the multi-link device, the first access point can inform the first station of the third information of the second link, so that the second station can directly transmit the data frame on the second link without waiting for receiving the beacon frame after switching to the second link according to the third information, and the waiting time required before the second link transmits the data frame after the first link is switched to the second link or the link state of the second link can be saved.
The multilink device in the embodiment of the present application has any function of the second MLD in the fourth aspect of the invention, or any function of the AP MLD in the seventh part of the specific embodiment, which is not described herein again.
In order to implement the functions in the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the access point and the station may include a hardware structure and a software module, and the functions are implemented in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. Some of the above functions may be implemented by a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. The multi-link device described below may be an AP MLD, a non-AP MLD, a chip, a system-on-chip, or a processor that supports the multi-link device to implement the method, or a chip, a system-on-chip, or a processor that supports the multi-link device to implement the method. The multilink device may be configured to implement the method described in the foregoing method embodiment, and specific reference may be made to the description in the foregoing method embodiment.
Referring to fig. 10, fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a multi-link device according to an embodiment of the present application. The multi-link device may include one or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor, etc. The processor 1001 may be configured to control one or more access points, one or more access point chips, one or more stations, one or more station chips, and the like in the multi-link device, execute a software program, and process data of the software program.
Optionally, the multi-link device may include one or more memories 1002 on which instructions 1004 may be stored, which may be executed on the processor 1001, so that the multi-link device performs the method described in the above method embodiments. Optionally, the memory 1002 may further store data, for example, store the first information, the second information, or the third information in the foregoing method embodiment. The processor 1001 and the memory 1002 may be provided separately or integrated together.
Optionally, the multi-link device may further include a transceiver 1005 and an antenna 1006. The transceiver 1005 may be referred to as a transceiving unit, a transceiver, or a transceiving circuit, etc. for implementing transceiving function. The transceiver 1005 may include a receiver and a transmitter, and the receiver may be referred to as a receiver or a receiving circuit, etc. for implementing a receiving function; the transmitter may be referred to as a transmitter or a transmission circuit, etc. for implementing the transmission function. Wherein the transceiver 1005 is configured to perform the receiving or transmitting operations in the above method embodiments.
In an alternative embodiment:
a transceiver 1005 for receiving first information of a second link over a first link;
the multi-link between the first MLD and the second MLD includes the first link and the second link;
the first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether a basic service set, BSS, configuration of the second link is updated;
the transceiver 1005 is further configured to transmit a data frame on the second link after the switch or the link state transition if the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated.
Therefore, the multilink device can know whether the BSS configuration parameters of the second link are updated or not, and when the BSS configuration parameters of the second link are not updated, the multilink device can directly transmit the data frames on the switched or link state converted second link, so that the waiting time required by the switched or link state converted second link before the data frames are transmitted is shortened.
The multilink device according to the embodiment of the present application has any function of the first MLD in the first aspect of the invention and any function of the non-AP MLD in the sixth section of the specific embodiment, and for all technical details thereof, reference may be made to the contents of the first aspect of the invention and the sixth section of the specific embodiment, and details thereof are not repeated here.
In another alternative embodiment:
a processor 1001 configured to determine first information of a second link, where the first information is used by a first MLD to determine whether a basic service set, BSS, configuration of the second link is updated;
a transceiver 1005 for transmitting first information of the second link over a first link;
the multi-link between the second MLD and the first MLD includes the first link and the second link;
the second link is a link switched from the first link or a link state-switched link.
It can be seen that, this embodiment is beneficial for the first MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration parameter of the second link is updated, and when there is no update, the first MLD may directly transmit the data frame on the switched or link-state-switched second link, so as to shorten the time length that the switched or link-state-switched second link needs to wait before transmitting the data frame.
The multilink device in the embodiment of the present application has any function of the second MLD in each link processing method described in the second aspect of the invention, or has any function of the AP MLD in each link processing method described in the sixth aspect, and is not described herein again.
In yet another alternative embodiment:
a transceiver 1005, configured to transmit second information of a second link on the first link, where the second information is used by the second MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated;
a transceiver 1005 for receiving third information on the first link, the third information determined by the second MLD based on the second information. The third information is used to indicate that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or is an updated parameter. In this way, the first MLD may transmit data frames on the second link according to the third information.
Therefore, the multilink equipment can directly transmit the data frames on the switched or state-converted second link, and the waiting time required before the switched or state-converted second link transmits the data frames is reduced.
In yet another alternative embodiment:
a transceiver 1005, configured to receive second information of a second link in the first link, where the second information is used for the multi-link device to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated;
a transceiver 1005 for transmitting third information on the first link, the third information being determined by the multi-link device according to the second information, the third information being used for indicating that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or the updated parameter.
It can be seen that, since the multi-link device can tell the non-AP MLD whether the BSS of the second link is updated or the updated parameter on the first link, the non-AP MLD can directly transmit the data frame on the switched or state-switched second link without receiving the beacon frame, thereby reducing the waiting time required before the switched or state-switched second link transmits the data frame.
Referring to fig. 11, fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of another multi-link device provided in the embodiment of the present application. The multi-link device may comprise a communication unit 1101 and a processing unit 1102. The communication unit 1101 may include a transmitting unit for implementing a transmitting function and a receiving unit for implementing a receiving function, and the communication unit 1101 may implement a transmitting function and/or a receiving function. The communication unit may also be described as a transceiver unit.
In an alternative embodiment:
a communication unit 1101 for receiving first information of a second link on a first link;
the multi-link between the first MLD and the second MLD comprises the first link and the second link;
the first information is used for the first MLD to determine whether the Basic Service Set (BSS) configuration of the second link is updated;
the communication unit 1101 is further configured to transmit a data frame on the second link after the switch or the link state transition if the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated.
Therefore, the multilink device can know whether the BSS configuration parameters of the second link are updated or not, and when the BSS configuration parameters of the second link are not updated, the multilink device can directly transmit the data frames on the switched or link state converted second link, so that the waiting time required by the switched or link state converted second link before the data frames are transmitted is shortened.
The multilink device according to the embodiment of the present application has any function of the first MLD in the first aspect of the invention and any function of the non-AP MLD in the sixth section of the specific embodiment, and as to all technical details thereof, reference may be made to the contents of the first aspect of the invention and the sixth section of the specific embodiment, which are not described herein again.
In another alternative embodiment:
a processing unit 1102, configured to determine first information of a second link, where the first information is used by a first MLD to determine whether a basic service set, BSS, configuration of the second link is updated;
a communication unit 1101 configured to transmit first information of the second link over a first link;
the multi-link between the second MLD and the first MLD includes the first link and the second link;
the second link is a link switched from the first link or a link state-switched link.
It can be seen that this embodiment is advantageous for the first MLD to confirm whether the BSS configuration parameters of the second link are updated, and when there is no update, the first MLD may directly transmit the data frame on the switched or link state converted second link, so as to shorten the time period for the switched or link state converted second link to wait before transmitting the data frame.
The multilink device in the embodiment of the present application has any function of the second MLD in each link processing method described in the second aspect of the invention, or has any function of the AP MLD in each link processing method described in the sixth aspect, and is not described herein again.
In yet another alternative embodiment:
a communication unit 1101, configured to send second information of a second link on the first link, where the second information is used by the second MLD to determine whether the BSS configuration of the second link is updated;
a communication unit 1101 configured to receive third information on the first link, the third information being determined by the second MLD based on the second information. The third information is used to indicate that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or is an updated parameter. In this way, the first MLD may transmit data frames on the second link according to the third information.
Therefore, the multilink equipment can directly transmit the data frames on the switched or state-converted second link, and the waiting time required before the switched or state-converted second link transmits the data frames is reduced.
In yet another alternative embodiment:
a communication unit 1101, configured to receive second information of a second link in a first link, where the second information is used by the multi-link device to determine whether a BSS configuration of the second link is updated;
a communication unit 1101, configured to send third information over the first link, where the third information is determined by the multi-link device according to the second information, and the third information is used to indicate that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or the updated parameter is not updated.
It can be seen that, since the multi-link device can tell the non-AP MLD whether the BSS of the second link is updated or the updated parameter on the first link, the non-AP MLD can directly transmit the data frame on the second link after the handover or the state transition without receiving the beacon frame, thereby reducing the waiting time required before the second link after the handover or the state transition transmits the data frame.
It can be understood that, for specific implementation of each functional unit included in the multi-link device, reference may be made to the foregoing embodiments, and details are not described here.
Referring to fig. 12, fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 12, the chip shown in fig. 12 includes a processor 1201 and an interface 1202. The number of the processors 1201 may be one or more, and the number of the interfaces 1202 may be more.
For the case where the chip is used to implement the functions of the station in the embodiment of the present application:
in one embodiment, the method comprises the step of,
an interface 1202 for receiving first information of a second link on a first link;
the multi-link between the first MLD and the second MLD comprises the first link and the second link;
the first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether a basic service set, BSS, configuration of the second link is updated;
the interface 1202 is further configured to transmit a data frame on the second link after the switch or the link state transition if the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated.
Therefore, the multilink device can know whether the BSS configuration parameters of the second link are updated or not, and when the BSS configuration parameters of the second link are not updated, the multilink device can directly transmit the data frames on the switched or link state converted second link, so that the waiting time required by the switched or link state converted second link before the data frames are transmitted is shortened.
The multilink device according to the embodiment of the present application has any function of the first MLD in the first aspect of the invention and any function of the non-AP MLD in the sixth section of the specific embodiment, and for all technical details thereof, reference may be made to the contents of the first aspect of the invention and the sixth section of the specific embodiment, and details thereof are not repeated here.
In another alternative embodiment:
a processor 1201, configured to determine first information of a second link, where the first information is used for a first MLD to determine whether a basic service set, BSS, configuration of the second link is updated;
an interface 1202, configured to send first information of the second link over a first link;
the multi-link between the second MLD and the first MLD includes the first link and the second link;
the second link is a link switched from the first link or a link state-switched link.
It can be seen that this embodiment is advantageous for the first MLD to confirm whether the BSS configuration parameters of the second link are updated, and when there is no update, the first MLD may directly transmit the data frame on the switched or link state converted second link, so as to shorten the time period for the switched or link state converted second link to wait before transmitting the data frame.
The multilink device in the embodiment of the present application has any function of the second MLD in each link processing method described in the second aspect of the invention, or has any function of the AP MLD in each link processing method described in the sixth aspect, and is not described herein again.
In yet another alternative embodiment:
an interface 1202, configured to send second information of a second link on the first link, where the second information is used by a second MLD to determine whether a BSS configuration of the second link is updated;
an interface 1202 for receiving third information on the first link, the third information determined by the second MLD based on the second information. The third information is used to indicate that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or is an updated parameter. In this way, the first MLD may transmit data frames on the second link according to the third information.
Therefore, the multilink equipment can directly transmit the data frames on the switched or state-converted second link, and the waiting time required before the switched or state-converted second link transmits the data frames is reduced.
In yet another alternative embodiment:
an interface 1202, configured to receive second information of a second link in a first link, where the second information is used by the multi-link device to determine whether a BSS configuration of the second link is updated;
an interface 1202 for transmitting third information on the first link, the third information being determined by the multi-link device according to the second information, the third information indicating that the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated or the updated parameter.
It can be seen that, since the multi-link device can tell the non-AP MLD whether the BSS of the second link is updated or the updated parameter on the first link, the non-AP MLD can directly transmit the data frame on the switched or state-switched second link without receiving the beacon frame, thereby reducing the waiting time required before the switched or state-switched second link transmits the data frame.
It should be understood that the term "and/or" herein is merely one type of association relationship that describes an associated object, meaning that three relationships may exist, e.g., a and/or B may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the former and latter related objects are in an "or" relationship.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various method steps and elements described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both, and that the steps and elements of the embodiments are generally described in the foregoing description as functional or software interchange, for the purpose of clearly illustrating the interchangeability of hardware and software. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the technical solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.
It can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that, for convenience and simplicity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.
In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the units is only one logical division, and other divisions may be realized in practice, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may also be an electrical, mechanical or other form of connection.
The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one position, or may be distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiments of the present application.
In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in a form of hardware, and can also be realized in a form of a software functional unit.
The integrated unit, if implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application may be substantially or partially contributed by the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution may be embodied in a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a usb disk, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.
The above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application, and these modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims (21)

1. A method of link processing, the method comprising:
the first multi-link device MLD receives first information of a second link on a first link;
the multi-link between the first MLD and the second MLD includes the first link and the second link;
the first information is used by the first MLD to determine whether a basic service set, BSS, configuration of the second link is updated;
and if the BSS configuration of the second link is not updated, the first MLD transmits data frames on the second link after switching or link state conversion.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data frame comprises an uplink data frame, or a quality of service NULL Qos NULL frame, or a link state notification frame; the link state notification frame is used to indicate that the second link is in an awake or enabled state.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
the first information of the second link is a serial number configured by the BSS identifying the second link in the second MLD, or a serial number AP-CSN configured by an access point, or a value of a check beacon.
4. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
the first information of the second link is carried in a link switching response message, or a cross-link information report message, or a media access control frame, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame, or a beacon frame, or a control field of a data frame, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame received on the first link.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the first information of the second link is carried in a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame received on the first link, the method further comprises, before the second link transmits a data frame:
the first MLD sends a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame on a first link;
the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame is used for indicating whether the first MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein if the BSS of the second link is configured with an update, the method further comprises:
the first MLD sends second information on the second link, wherein the second information is a serial number stored in the first MLD and used for identifying BSS configuration of the second link, or an AP-CSN (access point configuration serial number), or a beacon check beacon value;
the first MLD receiving the updated parameters of the BSS configuration of the second link on the second link; the updated parameters of the BSS configuration of the second link are determined according to the second information.
7. The method of claim 6,
second information of the second link is carried in a unicast probe request frame on the second link to be sent;
the updated parameters of the BSS configuration for the second link are carried in a probe response frame received on the second link, the probe response frame being returned based on the unicast probe request frame.
8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that before the first multi-link device MLD receives the first information of the second link on the first link, the method further comprises:
the first MLD acquires and stores second information of a second link from a beacon frame, a multilink detection response frame or a multilink association response frame of the first link;
the second information is a serial number stored in the first MLD and used for identifying BSS configuration of the second link, or an AP-CSN (access point configuration serial number), or a beacon check beacon value.
9. The method of claim 8,
the beacon frame of the first link, or the multilink probe response frame, or the multilink association response frame further carries the link state and the channel utilization rate of the second link.
10. A method of link processing, the method comprising:
the method comprises the steps that a second multi-link device (MLD) determines first information of a second link, wherein the first information is used for the first MLD to determine whether Basic Service Set (BSS) configuration of the second link is updated;
the second MLD sends first information of the second link on a first link;
the multi-link between the second MLD and the first MLD comprises the first link and the second link;
the second link is a link switched from the first link or a link state-switched link.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
the second MLD receiving a data frame on the second link, the data frame comprising an uplink data frame, or a quality of service NULL Qos NULL frame, or a link status notification frame; the link state notification frame is used to indicate that the second link is in an awake or enabled state.
12. The method according to claim 10 or 11,
the first information of the second link is a serial number configured by the BSS identifying the second link in the second MLD, or a serial number AP-CSN configured by an access point, or a value of a check beacon.
13. The method of claim 10 or 11,
the first information of the second link is carried in a link handover response message, or a cross-link information report message, or a media access control frame, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame, or a beacon frame, or a control field of a data frame, or a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame on the first link for transmission.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein if the first information of the second link is carried in a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation request frame received on the first link for transmission, the second MLD further comprises, before transmitting a data frame on the second link:
the second MLD receives a service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame on the first link;
the service identifier and link mapping relationship negotiation response frame is used for indicating whether the first MLD accepts the mapping configuration request between the service identifier and the link.
15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
the second MLD receives second information on the second link, wherein the second information is a serial number stored in the first MLD and used for identifying BSS configuration of the second link, or AP-CSN (access point configuration serial number), or a check beacon value;
and the second MLD sends the updated parameters of the BSS configuration of the second link on the second link according to the second information.
16. The method of claim 15,
the second information of the second link is carried in a unicast probe request frame received on the second link;
the updated parameters of the BSS configuration of the second link are carried for transmission in a probe response frame on the second link, the probe response frame being transmitted based on the unicast probe request frame.
17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the second multi-link device MLD, before sending the first information of the second link on the first link, further comprises:
the second MLD sends a beacon frame, a multilink detection response frame or a multilink association response frame of the first link on the first link; the beacon frame, the multilink probe response frame, or the multilink association response frame includes second information of a second link.
18. The method of claim 17,
the beacon frame of the first link, or the multilink probe response frame, or the multilink association response frame further carries the link state and the channel utilization rate of the second link.
19. A multi-link device, comprising:
an interface and a processor, the interface and the processor coupled,
the processor is for performing the method of any one of claims 1-9, or for performing the method of any one of claims 10-18.
20. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising at least one code executable by a computer to control the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 9, or the method of any one of claims 10 to 18.
21. A multi-link device, comprising:
a memory, a processor, and a transceiver, the memory and the processor coupled,
the processor is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-9, or the method of any one of claims 10-18, via the transceiver.
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BR112022020845A BR112022020845A2 (en) 2020-04-18 2021-04-17 LINK PROCESSING METHOD, MULTI-LINK DEVICE, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIA
PCT/CN2021/087955 WO2021209059A1 (en) 2020-04-18 2021-04-17 Link processing method, multi-link device and computer-readable storage medium
EP21788239.8A EP4131816A4 (en) 2020-04-18 2021-04-17 Link processing method, multi-link device and computer-readable storage medium
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